Rogue traders to be targeted by new legislation

Proposed new legislation will make it easier for Trading Standards Officers to identify rogue traders who hoodwink consumers and then hide behind the anonymity of a telephone number.

This follows publication of the Home Office’s consultation document 'Access to Communications Data – Respecting Privacy and Protecting the Public From Crime'.

The proposed new legislation which will give trading standards officers access to communications data such as subscriber details for telephone numbers.

A spokesman for the Trading Standards Service said: “It is vital that this information is available to trading standards officers. We have dealt with many cases recently where unscrupulous traders have advertised goods and services with a mobile telephone as the only method of contact.

“These traders, posing as private sellers, often mislead consumers. The goods sold may be misdescribed or the work carried out may be of a shoddy nature. In these circumstances, the consumer has great difficulty in having faults put right because the trader is difficult to trace or identify.”

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, which is responsible for the Trading Standards Service in Northern Ireland, is to be included in new order laid before Parliament.

(MB)