Trading Standards - Buy With Confidence
The Buy With Confidence scheme is an initiative by Havering Council in association with the London Trading Standards Authorities (LoTSA), to help businesses comply with the law while improving consumer protection through a partnership approach. It is open to any business within the area of the London Borough of Havering.
The Buy With Confidence scheme puts consumers in touch with Trading Standards approved traders who have agreed to provide high standards of customer service, including dealing promptly with any complaints.
Approved traders are vetted before they join and agree to:
- comply with relevant consumer protection legislation
- ensure that staff are properly trained for their work
- respond promptly and correctly to customer complaints
- get Criminal Records Bureau clearance for all staff who carry out work in people's homes.
Trading Standards provide guidance to businesses on how to change their business terms, and practices to correspond with consumer protection legislation, and best practice. If we are not satisfied that a business is complying then they will be removed from the scheme.
Before they can become members of the scheme, Trading Standards obtain several customer references and make various checks on the Traders, including checking terms and conditions, trader knowledge of consumer protection law, professional memberships, and complaints procedures.
In addition, Trading Standards will provide a mediation service if there is a dispute that cannot be resolved between the parties concerned.