Trading Standards Approved Traders Directory

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sjr4x4 : Administrator
5th March 2013 9:30 AM

“And will this be free as trading standards is I think funded via the council tax? Or will it be funded by businesses willing to subscribe to yet another business listing? I can get a logo saying I'm a Master Craftsman or belong to the Federation of Master Builders costs a couple of

Steve Richardson
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garde : Forum Member
5th March 2013 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by sjr4x4

“Many thanks to Clive, Roz, Paul, Sami and Mark in getting MLS this far, and also Sami, Sandra and Martin on the forum side for keeping the link dumpers at bay!

”

Aww cheers Steve - team effort though, but my thanks also to you & our team and fellow MLF moderators - busy but exciting times ahead

Clive

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Barney : Forum Member
6th March 2013 1:39 AM

“Existing Trade Organisations can be part of 1 or more schemes, but only those that subscribe to the TSI code of practices will be eligible to allow their members to also display the new TSI logo alongside their Trade Organisation logo.

Read more at http://www.mylocalforums.com/general-business-marketing-news-help-discussion/6444-trading-standards-approved-traders-directory.html#kYqSyr8yUoXtYIiG.99”

I'm a bit confused as to how that will work, so are trade organisations now expected to enforce the trading standards code of practices on their trade members? If so, how?

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Barney

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sjr4x4 : Administrator
6th March 2013 8:46 AM

Originally Posted by Barney

“I'm a bit confused as to how that will work, so are trade organisations now expected to enforce the trading standards code of practices on their trade members? If so, how?

”

My understanding is that TSI has taken over and absorbed the codes of practices as laid down by the OFT, so organisations members will already be conforming to these, and any reported issues would be dealt with by the organisation itself, through processes and procedures already in place. No doubt TSI may want to enhance these as the scheme is developed, but organisations looking to join the scheme would agree to these code of practices, just as they would have to with the OFT scheme.

I think this is more of a building on the success and concept of the OFT scheme and taking it to a new level with more publicity and visibility for consumers, via an easily identifiable Trading Standards Approved logo.

Reducing consumer confusion, and giving trade members an identifiable logo that shows they are TS approved traders, as well as members of a professional organisation, to promote their own services can only be a good thing.

Steve Richardson
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Barney : Forum Member
6th March 2013 6:06 PM

Well this seems all well and good but without trying to put this scheme down, but there are plenty of traders / tradesmen who belong to registered trades bodies because they legally have to, to trade. But just because they are registered dosen't make them either good or trade honestly or fairly. Many will avoid paying VAT to start with and only work for cash, many will work with only pay and throw mobile phones and many will just copy and paste a logo to make themselves look as though they are approved by trading standards...

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sjr4x4 : Administrator
7th March 2013 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by Barney

“Many will avoid paying VAT to start with and only work for cash, many will work with only pay and throw mobile phones and many will just copy and paste a logo to make themselves look as though they are approved by trading standards...”

Yup, all true, but if reported or caught then they would be dealt with. You're never going to stop rogue traders who deliberately set out to defraud the public or the tax man, that's going to be down to the law. But businesses that join approved bodies, are accountable, and are less likely to be your average cowboy.

If a consumer knows nothing about the industry that the trader they need is in, they at least have somewhere to go where all businesses come under an approved regulating body. If they are unhappy, have a complaint which needs addressing, they know the scheme is backed by Trading Standards, which in the eyes of the public, is a powerful statement.

Illegal use of the new approved logo has been a big part of the project and TSI has employed a specialist security company who will control and monitor the distribution of the online logos. We are meeting them tomorrow as we will be working together to send out the logos, so it should be quite interesting. How they track logo usage I've no idea, so looking forward to learning something new

Steve Richardson
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