Hippo
Lord Hippo
- Posts
- 53,747
Trading Standards... a lot of people see them as slow and a waste of time but I have reported companies to them in the past. One was investigated and I was included in the investigation with the g*t receiving a fine for unfair business practices.
Report them to Trading Standards. Be clear and factually correct in what happened. The report will be logged into their database which their officers can search. They monitor incoming new reports to keep a feel of what's going on.
A single bad report isn't enough to investigate. They need multiple reports which indicate business practice which is poor. If this happens and they start an investigation they will approach the company and look at it. They have powers to do this sort of thing. One part of this will involve taking a sample of customers from the company records and contacting them. They will ask if the service/product offered was good or bad. You have the option to report good or bad when replying. Based on the results of this they will further their investigation if there is an option to do so. It is reliant on customers reporting them in the first place as well as providing feedback when requested.
I was lucky to be picked so I advised I was unhappy and they came back with a request for a written statement. They helped me with this and I signed the statement and agreed I would go to the hearing if necessary. My statement and others were submitted as evidence. Hence the need to go to the hearing may be required. I didn't go as the defendant eventually admitted he had done wrong, after trying his best to get away with it.
The process is slow but they have to build up an evidence based case and allow time for people to respond. They also have to follow rules to protect what they do or they could be sued. The process has to be seen to be precise, open and fair.
It is always worth reporting companies like this as you never know what may happen in the future. It is likely others have also reported them. The more reports Trading Standards have, the more likely of an investigation and subsequent punishment if they're found guilty of the o'fence. If it goes to court you have the option to put down a value for compensation.
Report them to Trading Standards. Be clear and factually correct in what happened. The report will be logged into their database which their officers can search. They monitor incoming new reports to keep a feel of what's going on.
A single bad report isn't enough to investigate. They need multiple reports which indicate business practice which is poor. If this happens and they start an investigation they will approach the company and look at it. They have powers to do this sort of thing. One part of this will involve taking a sample of customers from the company records and contacting them. They will ask if the service/product offered was good or bad. You have the option to report good or bad when replying. Based on the results of this they will further their investigation if there is an option to do so. It is reliant on customers reporting them in the first place as well as providing feedback when requested.
I was lucky to be picked so I advised I was unhappy and they came back with a request for a written statement. They helped me with this and I signed the statement and agreed I would go to the hearing if necessary. My statement and others were submitted as evidence. Hence the need to go to the hearing may be required. I didn't go as the defendant eventually admitted he had done wrong, after trying his best to get away with it.
The process is slow but they have to build up an evidence based case and allow time for people to respond. They also have to follow rules to protect what they do or they could be sued. The process has to be seen to be precise, open and fair.
It is always worth reporting companies like this as you never know what may happen in the future. It is likely others have also reported them. The more reports Trading Standards have, the more likely of an investigation and subsequent punishment if they're found guilty of the o'fence. If it goes to court you have the option to put down a value for compensation.