Free Electric Blanket Testing for Warwickshire over 50's

/in News/by PC Clerk

Warwickshire Trading Standards are offering FREE electric blanket testing to over 50’s Warwickshire residents.
The testing sessions will be held at various places around the county as follows:
Monday 2 October – Rugby Library
Wednesday 4 October – Leamington Town Hall
Christmas lights, kettles, toasters and irons will also be tested for free.
Please book your place by contacting Warwickshire Trading Standards on: Tel: 01926 414080 (9am to 5pm) or email: ebtesting@Warwickshire.gov.uk

North Warwickshire ‘pushy’ gardener warning!

/in News/by PC Clerk

Warwickshire Trading Standards are warning North Warwickshire residents to beware of ‘pushy’ door to door gardeners who won’t take no for an answer. One resident reported receiving several visits, despite telling the caller that they were not interested.
Do not buy goods or services from unexpected doorstep callers. You can’t tell a good trader from a bad one on the doorstep. Seek at least three quotes from local traders you know and trust. Otherwise, consider using a Trading Standards approved trader
More information
Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.
Warwickshire Trading Standards Website Facebook Twitter
Sign up to scam alerts at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams
Avoid rogue traders. Use Warwickshire Trading Standards No Rogue Traders Here approved trader scheme
Please feel free to pass on or re-publish this email alert

Concert and event tickets were invalid warning

/in News/by PC Clerk

Consumers are warned to be careful when purchasing concert or event tickets from secondary ticketing websites after a Warwickshire resident spent over £200 on tickets that they found were invalid when they got to the venue (and were consequently denied entry). This was probably because the scam seller had either cancelled them or reported them lost in the post before selling them online.
Consumer should:
Where possible, buy your tickets from the box office or primary ticket agents, as these are the official agents who have agreements with promoters. Treat any claims of being able to sell cheap tickets for sold out events or offering tickets before they are officially on sale with extreme caution. Protect their purchases if the price of individual tickets is over £100, by using their credit card. As long as the card is used for any part of the transaction (even a small deposit), the credit card company is equally and separately liable if there is a problem with the purchase. No such legal protection exists for purchases made via debit cards; however, buyers can complain to their respective banks in such situations and request a chargeback.
More information
Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.
Warwickshire Trading Standards Website Facebook Twitter
Sign up to scam alerts at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams

No Rogue Trader Zone

/in News/by PC Clerk

A new ‘No Rogue Trader Zone’ has been launched in Ryton-on-Dunsmore under a scheme operated by Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service and supported by Warwickshire Police.

The launch was attended by local residents, Cllr. Roberts, police and Trading Standards officers.


Councillor Howard Roberts, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety said: “Rogue traders are a menace, pressurising residents to have work carried out on their homes and gardens that is often unnecessary and always overpriced and poorly carried out.”
“No Rogue Trader Zones have proved very successful in deterring rogue traders and bogus callers where they have been established across the county. I’m delighted that a No Rogue Trader Zone is now being launched in Ryton-on-Dunsmore to help protect often very vulnerable and elderly residents from doorstep crime.”

Programme of Fun

/in News/by PC Clerk

This years Fete and Football Community Event has a packed programme full of fun for all the family!

Warwickshire Trading Standards Bulletin

/in News/by PC Clerk

Beware of fraudsters falsely claiming to be calling from Sky! A Warwickshire resident received a phone call which she believed was genuine because she had very recently cancelled her Sky subscription.
She told the caller this and then a few moments later received another phone call asking her to confirm her payment details relating to the account. She did and shortly afterwards someone made a withdrawal of £200 from her account.
Fortunately her bank were able to recover the money.
NEVER give any personal or financial information to people who call you on the phone, no matter who they claim to be.
Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.
Sign up to scam alerts at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams

In wedding season – wedding services fraud warning

/in News/by PC Clerk

Warwickshire Trading Standards is warning consumers to beware of fraudulent wedding related service providers. Whilst most traders operating on the High St. or online are perfectly genuine, there are some traders who are operating fraudulently. They are more likely to operate solely online and are unlikely to have a long track record, instead appearing suddenly and disappearing almost as quickly! They are also more likely to offer their services at lower than average prices, to draw consumers in.
Consumers can protect themselves by:
Paying by Credit Card. This will provide you with protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, for purchases above £100 and below £30,000 so if the companies goes in to liquidation or simply disappears before the Big Day, you can claim a refund from your Credit Card company.
Ensuring you obtain a physical address and contact details for the vendor and verify this information. A mobile phone number, email address or Facebook page is not enough! Should you experience any problems, you will then be able to make a complaint to Trading Standards or consider pursuing via the Small Claims Court.
Ensuring you obtain a contract before paying money for services. Make certain you fully read and understand what you are signing and note the terms of cancellation.
Considering purchasing Wedding Insurance – policies vary in cover and can be purchased up to two years in advance. They can protect you from events that would not be covered under the Consumer Credit Act.
Carrying out research on each vendor to ensure you are dealing with a bona fide person or company. Explore the internet for reviews and ratings and ask the vendor to provide details of past clients you can speak to. You should do this even if using companies recommended by a trustworthy friend or source.
Checking your wedding photographer. Beware of websites using fake images. Look for inconsistencies in style; meet the photographer in person and ask to view sample albums. If you like an image from a wedding, ask to view the photographs taken of the whole event so you can see the overall quality.
Remember, if something appears too good to be true, it probably is!
Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.
Warwickshire Trading Standards Website Facebook Twitter
Sign up to scam alerts at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams

Bogus ‘Police’ alarm sales Rugby

/in News/by PC Clerk

Rugby and Warwickshire residents are warned to beware of unexpected phone calls from people falsely claiming to work for Warwickshire Police and selling alarms. The callers make appointments for salespeople to visit resident’s homes.
Warwickshire Police do not cold-call residents on the phone to sell alarm systems or sell alarms door to door.
Over the years, lots of consumers have had problems with high pressure sellers, selling expensive home alarm systems that aren’t always what they are cracked up to be. Unfortunately the elderly and vulnerable are often targeted. Tactics employed by salesmen to sell expensive and unsuitable alarm systems include:
The use of dubious crime/fire statistics, and tales of robbery and assault to scare householders in to buying.
Telling the householder that new legislation will prevent them obtaining contents insurance if they do not have a monitored alarm. This is not true.
Pretending to be calling on behalf of Trading Standards, Fire and Rescue Service, Police or Neighbourhood Watch in order to make their visit appear official.
Offering ‘free’ monitored alarms. The householder is told they have either won or been selected for an alarm. Although this may seem at first to be a tempting offer, what is not always made clear to householders who take up this offer is that they will have to pay a service charge to whichever company monitors the alarm system that is fitted – and this could be hundreds of pounds a year. Householders will also find themselves locked in to an agreement that could last several years and be required to pay for additional annual system check ups. In all the cost of this ‘free’ alarm could be many thousands of pounds.
Consumers who are considering purchasing an alarm system should not be rushed in to doing so on the door step, but should get at least three quotes from reputable companies.
Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.
Warwickshire Trading Standards Website Facebook Twitter. Sign up to scam alerts at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams

Local Rising Country Star

/in News/by PC Clerk

Local rising star Kelliemarie

Local rising Country Star Kellimarie who lives in Ryton on Dunsmore, stormed into the Country Album Charts at Number 6 on the 14th April with her Debut EP ‘Under The Same Stars’. The top ten chart placement is an amazing result for a 14-year-old artist with her first ever release of her own songs which were written when she was just 12 years old. Kellimarie, who has also recently been starring on CBBC’s show ‘Got What It Takes’, gained excellent feedback after her EP launch party at Rialto Reborn in Coventry last month where she performed with a full band and is sure to be celebrating again with this recent success.
Leading UK Artist Development Company ‘Big Help Music’ who produced the EP and have been working with Kellimarie since she was 12, had this to say: ‘We are immensely proud of what Kellimarie has managed to achieve at such a young age. Don’t be fooled by her age though. It’s just a number. Kellimarie is a brilliant songwriting talent and her EP is full of genuinely good songs that will take up residence in your head. Don’t say you haven’t been
warned! This is a great record!’
People of Ryton on Dunsmore will get a chance to watch Kellimarie perform live at her upcoming appearances this summer at Rugby Bike Fest (May 21st), Folk On The Water (17th June) and Godiva Festival Main stage (July 9th). You can also keep up to date with Kellimarie’s upcoming performances and releases on her facebook page @kellimariemusic Kellimarie’s EP ‘Under The Same Stars’ is now available for download from Itunes and other online platforms: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/under-the-same-stars-ep/id1209848965?app=itunes You can also listen to it free on Spotify!

Warwickshire County Council objects to Warren Field Housing Plans

/in News/by PC Clerk

Warwickshire County Council has undertaken a full assessment of the planning application and the supporting information which has been submitted. Based on Warwickshire County Councils assessment the Highway Authority OBJECTS on highways grounds to the proposals.
The following identifies the reasons for objection at this time:
1. Insufficient parking proposed for the proposed dwellings to meet the Councils car parking standards.
2. Site layout issues – Substandard driveway dimensions and aisle widths, driveways not a 90 degrees to the kerb and the driveway for the existing dwelling at No 29 has not been amended or addressed adequately.
3. Vehicles parked on the proposed highway would restrict access for service vehicles on the remaining carriageway. Furthermore, the tight alignment shows the vehicle touching the kerblines as it passes around the proposed highway, clearance of 200mm should be provided.

Warwickshire County Council objects to the proposal for 29 homes by Orbit Homes.