Fair Trading
In order to ensure a fair trading environment prevails for both traders and consumers, inspections are carried out at all business premises in the borough.These involve checking prices and descriptions of goods to ensure they are not misleading.
The types of descriptions we check include
- Sterling silver, eg at jewellers
- Car mileages, eg at garages
- Welsh beef, eg at butchers
- Reconditioned, eg second hand TV’s etc
- Leather eg three-piece suites
- Double-glazed eg Estate Agents descriptions
- Travel Agents Brochure descriptions
The law states that consumers must be able to determine the price of goods without assistance. Compliance with this requirement is checked during inspections, as well as ensuring price indications are not misleading in any way. The Dti has published guidance which can be found using the links on the right hand side.
We also investigate complaints relating to service providers if they have falsely described their service or charged for work they haven’t carried out. We may for example investigate a builder for charging for a damp proof coarse they haven’t installed, or an accountant for making false claims in relation to qualifications held.
Another area of investigation includes instances of business fraud involving and individuals deception. We investigate businesses that deliberately mislead and deceive consumers and generally operate unfair business practices.
Tests are carried out on weighing and measuring equipment to ensure consumers get what they pay for and this is explained in more detail on the weights and measures page.
We work with Gwent Police, HM Revenue & Customs, the Benefits Agency and the Inland Revenue with the aim of reducing crime, tax evasion and fraud in order to provide a level playing field for all.
