Trading Standards - What we do
The easiest way to give an idea of some of the things we do is
to look at your typical day.
Before you even get up, look around you. Did
you know that there are legal minimum safety standards for your
mattress, pillows and nightwear (all to do with protection from
fire)? Is your electric blanket safe to use after spending the
summer in the attic? We arrange testing events to check. Most
things you buy have legal safety standards including the soap you
use in your shower, the toaster you use for making breakfast, your
cooker or anything else you might buy that could cause you any kind
of injury.
Getting dressed, youll be too busy thinking
about breakfast to worry whether your shirt really is made of
cotton. Don't worry, thats our job. All descriptions of goods have
to be accurate and in no way misleading, whether youre buying a
safety pin or a car.
Breakfast at last. Bacon & eggs with toast?
The scales that weighed the bacon or that apple going in your lunch
box should have been tested independently by our trained Weights
& Measures officers in the last two years, and the prices on
the shop shelves will have been checked by us too. But what about
the poor old pig? Our Animal Health officers look after animal
welfare issues, and enforce controls that allow the movement of
every farm animal to be tracked essential if there were another
Foot and Mouth outbreak.
Out the door, and off to work. But before you
go, think about your house. If its your own, don't forget that
while you were buying it you were protected against incorrect
information from Estate Agents. If you are renting, everything the
landlord provides has to be safe. That new central heating you were
thinking about? The gas fitter must be CORGI registered and provide
a satisfactory service. Again its our job to make sure that
happens.
Going to work by car, strapping the kids into
their car seats? We launched and promote the SmartFitter Scheme in
partnership with Road Safety and Cardiff Trading Standards to
ensure you have access to clear advice and education when you buy a
child car seat and that youre taught how to fit it correctly.
Petrols a terrible price, but at least you know youre getting the
correct measure, as we check all pumps regularly. The car itself is
one of the most expensive things youll ever buy, so perhaps you
bought it on credit. Its our job to make sure credit advertising is
accurate, and that only people with a credit licence offer it. We
also do checks on used cars to make sure the mileage hasn't been
altered.
We could go on and on about the laws we enforce to make sure
you're not ripped off or otherwise disadvantaged.
Thinking of going on holiday? We make sure all
local holiday firms have arrangements to get you home if they go
out of business.
Do you have children? Apart from safety checks
on things like toys and nursery equipment, we regularly check that
older children can't buy alcohol, cigarettes, knives and other age
related things until they're old enough.
Got a dispute with a trader?
Try our advice line:
Tel: 01446 700111
The list could go on a lot longer medical devices, explosives
licensing, hallmarking, counterfeiting. Our job is to protect you,
the consumer and the reputable trader in many and varied ways.