Latest News
Ensuring Safety for Our Children
December 2011
Christmas is a very busy time of year for Santa Claus. He has to get the sleigh ready, feed his reindeer, check his list to be sure he hasn't forgotten any good girls and boys....and make sure that the toys the elves have purchased are not only fun, but also safe!
More on ensuring the safety of kids toys.
Trading Standards says “Do it Yourself” and keep your cash!
November 2011
West Dunbartonshire Council’s Trading Standards Section is urging local people who were mis-sold Payment Protection Insurance to cut out the middleman and keep every penny they are due when claiming their money back.
Read more on how to claim Payment Protection Insurance.
Have you registered to sell tobacco?
October 2011
West Dunbartonshire’s Trading Standards Officers are urging businesses who sell tobacco to ensure they are registered with the Scottish Government.
More on registering to sell tobacco
West Dunbartonshire Council Champions Far Greater Rights for Consumers
June 2011
Major legal changes have given consumers new cancellation rights which affect most contracts that are concluded away from trade premises. The regulations apply to most contracts for the supply of goods or services with a value over £35.
Further information on your rights
Underage Sale of Tobacco Leads to £750 Fine
February 2011
A Clydebank shopkeeper has been fined £750 at Dumbarton Sheriff Court for selling cigarettes to a 15-year-old boy
Mrs Tabussam Akbar was caught in an undercover operation organised by West Dunbartonshire’s Trading Standards following many complaints about trading practices in her Keystore shop in Montrose Street, Clydebank.
Read more on underage sales fine
Shop Safely Online
September 2010
Buying goods and services from websites can offer the chance of a bargain but three quarters of people feel unsafe when shopping online, according to a survey into e-commerce conducted by the Trading Standards Institute for National e-Consumer Week (20 – 24 September 2010).
More on buying goods online
Money Scammers are Operating in West Dunbartonshire
August 2010
Residents in West Dunbartonshire are being warned to be aware of money-making or cash rebate schemes following a number of complaints to Trading Standards.
Scammers are taking advantage of people who have lost their jobs or find themselves struggling to make ends meet as a result of the recession.
Read how to avoid the Scammers
Getting Tough on Cold Callers
July 2010
Bogus callers are resourceful career criminals who steal thousands of pounds from the most vulnerable residents of West Dunbartonshire every year. This estimated sum may just be the tip of the iceberg as bogus caller crimes are seriously under-reported for a number of personal and social reasons.
More on Cold Callers
Poundland Fined for Selling Dangerous Halloween Masks
April 2010
West Dunbartonshire Council Trading Standards, along with other local authorities took part in a project promoted by the West of Scotland Safety working group. The project was designed to ensure compliance with the REACH Enforcement Regulation (Registration Evaluation Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) 2008 with specific regard to phthalate content in Toys.
Read more on Poundland Fined
Cigarettes Still Being Sold to Children
November 2009
West Dunbartonshire Council’s Trading Standards section expressed disappointment after more shops were found selling cigarettes to children.
During October, Trading Standards Officers visited 18 shops with young volunteers who asked to buy a packet of cigarettes. Thirteen shops refused to sell to the youngsters but unfortunately five shops did sell...
More on cigarettes being sold to children
Shops in Kids Cigarette Sale Shocker
August 2009
An undercover operation by the Council’s Trading Standards team in August revealed that almost a third of shops sold cigarettes to children without checking for age identification
More on undercover operation
Stop Unwanted Phone Calls and Mail
July 2009
Many of us have had the same experience. You’re sitting down for your dinner and the phone rings. You answer it and it’s somebody trying to sell you double glazing or a kitchen.
Read more on Unwanted Phone Calls and Mail
High Standards for Trading Standards!
July 2009
Trading Standards aims to deliver services in a way which as far as possible meets the needs of customers and the wider community. They do this by asking people what they think of the service.
More on Trading Standards
Motorists caught by Car Sales Scam
July 2009
West Dunbartonshire Trading Standards are alerting local residents to exercise caution when contacted by third party car sales companies.
Further information on Car Sales Scam
Adult Video Games Sold to Children
June 2009
West Dunbartonshire’s Trading Standards Section expressed disappointment when three out of four local retailers sold an “18” rated computer game to a 15 year old child last week during a monitoring operation.
More on underage sales
Check the Invoice!
May 2009
Trading Standards has issued a warning about scams where rogue 'publishers' have conned businesses into paying for adverts in publications that do not exist, or are not what victims are led to believe.
Read more on invoice scam
Don't Blow It!
April 2009
A recent operation by West Dunbartonshire’s Trading Standards Section revealed that one in four retailers sold cigarettes to children without any questions or checks being done on their age!
More on underage sales
Beware Security Systems Sales Scam
March 2009
West Dunbartonshire Council’s Trading Standards team are advising local residents to be on their guard following a number of complaints regarding “cold callers” currently operating in the area. The doorstep sellers, who sell home security systems are reported to be employing high pressure sales techniques and attempting to deny consumers their statutory rights.
Read about the Scam
How to beat the credit crunch
February 2009
In the space of just a few short months the term ‘credit crunch’ is in everyday use. You may already have found it harder to get credit unless you have a rock solid credit rating.
The Council’s Trading Standards service is responsible for enforcing consumer credit laws and they advise local people to follow their five step plan.
Read the five step plan
A Wise Old Bird Flies to the Rescue of Online Shoppers
December 2008
'Howard' the owl is ready to swoop in to help online Christmas shoppers to buy goods from the continent more easily and safely.
The UK European Consumer Centre (UK ECC), which is hosted by the Trading Standards Institute (TSI), has launched the wise old bird as an 'online shopping assistant' so that consumers can check out internet sites before deciding whether to buy from them.
Meet Howard the Owl
Be a Savvy Shopper
November 2008
Councillor Craig McLaughlin, Spokesperson for the Corporate Services Department tells us “The Trading Standards Institute’s National Consumer Week commences on the 17th of November and the theme for this year is “Be a Savvy Shopper”, which although always good advice is particularly relevant at this time of year.”
More on National Consumers Week
Scottish Blue Tongue
November 2008
Vaccination of sheep and cattle against BTV8 is compulsory in Scotland, except for a few specified exemptions. All existing animals subject to compulsory requirements must be vaccinated between 3rd November and 30 April 2009 and there will be an ongoing requirement to re-vaccinate these animals annually and to ensure that any animals reaching 3 months or being purchased after this time are also vaccinated.
(further information on Blue Tongue)
Be Safe.....Not Sorry
November 2008
A newly formed task group, involving emergency services and a number of West Dunbartonshire Council services, has been set up to help ensure that this fireworks season is safe and fun for everyone.
More on Fireworks
Best Practice Charter Mark Award for West Dunbartonshire Council
August 2008
West Dunbartonshire Council’s Trading Standards service is tops for customer service excellence. The service has been successful in its application for the prestigious Charter Mark award.
More on Charter Mark
Be Aware of Misleading "Charity" Collectors
June 2008The Police and Trading Standards are issuing a joint warning to the public that doorstep callers, who may be mistaken as working for a charity, have been reported to be operating in the Dumbarton area and could be further afield.
A Dumbarton woman reported that a man called at her door collecting for “Rosebud”.
Read more on the Charity Collectors
Excessive Packaging
June 2008
Trading Standards in West Dunbartonshire Council is asking people to be aware of the amount of unnecessary packaging that they throw away.
More on Packaging
This is not the Real Thing
May 2008
West Dunbartonshire Council’s Trading Standards service is warning people not to be deceived by a letter they may receive telling them that they have been entered into the Spanish lottery and have won a huge sum of money in Euros. Similar lottery scams originate in Canada.
Further Information on Lottery Scams
Under Age Sales Success
April 2008
West Dunbartonshire Council Trading Standards team expressed satisfaction after a recent operation involving children’s attempts to purchase restricted goods was reasonably successful.
More on Under Age Sales
New Consumer protection Regulations
April 2008
New research, released recently, reveals that consumers in Scotland are fed up with being ripped off by rogue traders.
More on Rogue Traders
Read a selection of historical local Trading Standards
news items.
