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Trading standards

Latest news

Racing scam fraudsters put away for 7 years

Merton Council and Sussex Police have sent down two fraudsters for 7 years and an associate for 21 months. The fraudsters may have obtained up to £5 million from unsuspecting investors over a four-year period.

The successful conviction follows a complaint made by a resident to Merton Council's trading standards team in January 2006 after they received a glossy brochure purportedly from Andrew Baxter UK Racing Investments. The mailing encouraged them to join a horse racing betting syndicate but was in fact a fake brochure from Paul and Gregory Spicer. It contained misleading text such as "in conjunction with", "recommended by the Financial Times" and "guaranteed profits". See the press release for further details.

Trader convicted of doorstep fraud

Morden resident Patrick Joseph Delaney trading as Approved Designs pleaded guilty to three offences of fraud. He was sentenced to 100 hours community service and ordered to pay £1,000 in costs. The offences occurred after Delaney cold-called an elderly couple and offered to pave their drive for them at a knock-down price of £1,200. See the press release for further details.

What we do

We protect the interests of consumers and businesses in Merton. Our work covers:

• Advice and education - for consumers and business
• Counterfeit goods
• Environmental issues such as excessive packaging
• Fair trading
• Fireworks registration and safety
• Product safety
• Rogue traders
• Street trading
• Underage sales
• Weights and measures

What you can expect

We receive a large number of enquiries every year from consumers and traders. This information is very valuable to us because the data is analysed and used to plan and target our work more efficiently.

We do this by identifying the issues that are affecting the most people and/or causing the most amount of harm. Using this model, our priorities for this year include doorstep crime and underage sales. We will look at other areas if intelligence shows that they are causing significant harm to consumers or businesses. However, this does mean that individual cases may not be pursued.

Our work is carried out in accordance with the guidelines contained in our enforcement policy. This ensures that we implement legislation in a consistent and open manner and means everyone is treated fairly.

See also

• Food safety
• Health and safety
• Licensing

Related websites

• London Trading Standards Authorities
  The website for all Trading Standards departments in London with useful advice leaflets and online services.
• Everything Regulation
  This site provides interpreted, simplified and prioritised information, which covers all major Trading Standards legislation.
• Trading Standards Institute
  Provides information for consumers and businesses, schools, advice and information centres, community organisations, local councils, business support agencies and trade associations.
• Office of Fair Trading
  Government department promoting and protecting consumer interests throughout the UK, while ensuring that businesses are fair and competitive.
• Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS)
  A government department that works to create the best environment for business success in the UK.

Contact us

Trading Standards
Merton Civic Centre
London Road
Morden
SM4 5DX

Email: trading.standards@merton.gov.uk
Tel: 020 8545 4018
For consumer advice visit the Consumer Direct website or call 08454 04 05 06. Telephone calls will cost no more than 4p per minute for BT customers and may be free depending on your call plan (other networks may vary).