Website and telephone payments Sunday 19 May
Our website and telephone payment systems are unavailable between 9am and 2pm on Sunday 19 May. You will not be able to pay for any council services on our website or over the phone during this time.
Our trading standards team is at the frontline of consumer and business protection.
It deals with issues that affect everyone, such as falsely described or counterfeit goods, underage sales, loan sharks, misleading prices and uninvited doorstep sellers.
It is committed to working with business to:
If you suspect that counterfeit goods are being sold, contact the Citizens Advice service or by calling 0808 223 1133, who will investigate the complaint and react accordingly. General points which should raise suspicion are:
Buy your stock only from reputable wholesalers and ensure you have a receipt describing the goods. Do not buy goods from people who approach your stall, no matter how good a bargain it seems. Bear in mind that some brands are only ever sold in their own shops. Other brands are restrictive about who sells their goods, so the goods are unlikely ever to be on sale in a general wholesaler's or from the back of a van.
The impact on retailers is one of the reasons that Trading Standards takes counterfeiting so seriously. This is also something the courts recognise when dealing with counterfeiters.
See our fair trading and pricing advice and guidance here.
For Trading Standards business advice, please contact Trading Standards and we will be happy to help.