Buy with confidence
Many local authorities operate approved trader schemes - Buy with Confidence is ours.
In response to concerns about 'rogue traders' which are often highlighted in the media, a partnership of Local Authority Trading Standards Services have taken a ground-breaking step by putting together the Buy With Confidence Scheme. The scheme provides consumers with a list of local businesses committed to trading fairly.
In order to become a Buy With Confidence member, a business must pass a set of tailored background checks. Membership of the scheme is not given lightly, amongst other checks, each applicant;
- will receive a visit from Trading Standards,
- have their complaints history reviewed,
- require good references from previous customers,
- may need criminal records basic disclosure and
- must agree to abide by the scheme's code of conduct which requires them to follow the letter and spirit of the law.
While it is expected that members will abide by all legislative requirements placed upon them, the pre-membership background checks are specifically aimed at Trading Standards legislation. Other legislation which may apply to a company but is beyond the remit of Trading Standards is not included in the checks, for example, Health and Safety law.
Only if all the scheme requirements are met, will a business be granted membership, and their conduct will continue to be monitored thereafter. We cannot promise that Buy With Confidence members' work will be perfect every time, but you can expect any problems to be dealt with fairly by the business, and you can turn to Trading Standards for advice in the event of an unresolved issue.
You can find out more about the scheme by watching the Buy With Confidence promotional film on YouTube.
Buy with Confidence is run through the co-operation of a number of Trading Standards services and is considered to be a 'best practice' scheme.