Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Press Release
17th September 2009
Unlicensed Traders Tracked Down
Trading Standards Officers at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar want to thank the public and partner agencies for their help with tracking down unlicensed Doorstep Sellers in Lewis earlier this week. Even Comhairle bus and mobile library drivers were on the lookout for the sellers!
The salesmen had been warned on Tuesday afternoon that they were not allowed to trade in the Western Isles without a Local Authority Street Trader’s Licence. Despite assuring officers that they understood the advice and that they would cease trading, an alert member of the public reported that they were again selling in the Lochs area the next day.
The sellers were found at lunchtime on Wednesday and were escorted by Police and Trading Standards to the ferry. Another vehicle was unable to board the ferry and left via Tarbert that afternoon.
It is understood that the itinerant salesmen were selling generators and power washers. A Trading Standards spokesperson said 'the problems associated with buying from unlicensed sellers range from issues with poor quality and also safety aspects. Also consumers have little or no comeback if you subsequently find that the item is broken or not as described, as the seller has often left the islands and there will usually be no forwarding address for you to try and assert your consumer rights.'
They continued ‘we are grateful to members of the public for contacting ourselves and the Police to let us know the whereabouts of doorstep sellers. We also have an out of hours contact number 01851 701702 through Faire, the Comhairle’s Community Care-line Service.'
If anyone requires one of our ‘No Cold Calling Cards’ you should contact 01851 709577.
. . . . . . .
Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Tel: 01851 822622 (Work)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk
Ruairidh Maciver
Communications Assistant
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Tel: 01851 822615 (Work)
Tel: 07881 774601 (Mobile)
email: ruairidh.maciver@cne-siar.gov.uk
