NEWS RELEASE

PR 911

For Immediate Release 30 August 2002

Spot the fake and win genuine designer clothing

A Gucci watch for a tenner? Nike trainers for 20 quid? A no deposit, no interest loan?

Are these offers genuine, or are they too good to be true? How can you find out?

The people who will know are the Trading Standards team at Bath & North East Somerset Council.

These are the people who can spot a fake trainer down the length of a football pitch, the people who can sniff out a packet of crisps past its sell by date, or spot a dangerous carrycot at fifty paces - and all their expertise is only a phone call away.

As a result of our local Trading Standards’ success in exposing fake designer clothing, major fashion companies including Timberland, Henri Lloyd, Calvin Kline, Reebok, Tommy Hillfiger, Adidas and Kickers have donated some of their genuine products as prizes in an exciting draw.

Next week - Monday 2 September to Saturday 7 September - Trading Standards are running an advice shop in Burton Street - at the bottom of Milsom Street.

There they will be showing the sort of things they find in their day to day work - fake clothing, dangerous toys, unsafe pushchairs, wrongly labelled foods - and offering advice on how to avoid it in the future. They can advise on credit loans and what your rights are if you buy faulty goods on credit cards and on how to deal with loansharks.

"This display shows the range of things the Council Trading Standards team get involved with. Not only do they educate shoppers so they can protect themselves from dangerous goods and ensure they are buying genuine, safe items, but they work with food suppliers looking after animal welfare and ensuring that ‘sell by dates’ are obeyed.

They also offer advice to many traders on their rights under the Sale of Goods Act." explained Cllr Steve Hedges.

Each day during the week the ‘Dodgy Shop’ will focus on a different area of Trading Standards work:-

Monday will look at counterfeit clothing and fair trading covering trade descriptions, trademarks, and under age sales. Representatives from fashion companies have been invited to help visitors with advice on how to spot fakes. Mannequins will be on display with fake and genuine clothes. Can you spot which is genuine? If you guess right, you’ll be entered in a draw, with (genuine!) designer goods as prizes.

Tuesday follows food from farm to fork. The role of Trading Standards officers in animal health welfare, use of pesticides, food treatment, food labelling, helping the shopper know what it is they are buying and how to understand food labels and lists, Wednesday is safety day. Electric blanket testing will be available by appointment. (Call 01225 396753 to book) Examples of products that have been tested will be on display - Learn how to spot which toy is safe and suitable for your child. See a candle that could melt its way through a TV set, and a metal tray that’s so sharp you need to wear gardening gloves if you want to use it to serve tea.

Thursday will look at what can be a huge headache - credit and debt. Staff will be able to give advice on what to do if you are refused credit, explain your if you buy faulty goods on credit, give advice on how to deal with loansharks, and suggest ways to avoid being stranded abroad on holiday. The National Debtline on 0808 808 4000 is always available to call.

Staff will also use their special equipment to carry out pram and pushchair tests looking at stability the security of harness fixing points and general safety points.

Friday will focus on general consumer advice. Did you know you had extra protection when you buy from an uninvited doorstep seller? Or that you have the right to a no-questions-asked refund if you purchase by mail order? Buying with a credit card can strengthen your legal rights - but do you know what your legal rights are any way?

Does a shop have to sell you something at the price they’ve marked it with? Learn how to be a successful shopper, and how to negotiate when there is a dispute with a trader. Saturday. General open day.

Throughout the week staff will be available for general advice. They have lots of leaflets and handouts covering all aspects of trading standards works from advice to the purchaser to advice for the seller.

The Consumer Advice Line is always open between 10 am -12.30 pm every weekday on 01225 396755.

The Bath & North East Somerset Trading Standards team regularly carry out investigations into under ages sales of cigarettes, videos and, now the Council is responsible for the laws on the sale of alcohol, they will also be looking at off-licence sales.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY

Monday 2 September, 10.30 am

Trading Standards shop in Burton Street, bottom of Milsom Street (next to Body Shop near Devon Savouries)

Representatives from Timberland, Henri Lloyd and other fashion companies will also be present

For comment please contact:

Councillor Steve Hedges, Executive Member for Community Safety, Housing and Consumer Services. Tel: (01225) 358622

For more information contact:

Roger Pope, Principal Trading Standards Officer. Tel: (01225) 396750

Issued by: Julia Dean, Bath & North East Somerset Press Office on 01225 477827

pressoffice@bathnes.gov.uk