19th April 2024 Trading Standards Bulletin

We have received a report of two individuals going door to door in and around Lakenheath on Sunday (14th April 2024), offering to carry out work on driveways.

Were you approached? Did you see any vehicle they were travelling in? If you have any information please contact us via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.

While it might be tempting to agree to low prices being offered on the doorstep, think twice. Our advice is:

• never agree to have any work done as a result of a cold call, and don't be pressurised into having the job done immediately
• if you think work needs doing to your home, get quotes from 2 or 3 traders. Ask friends and family for recommendations of traders who have carried out work for them. You can also check Suffolk Trusted Trader for traders that have been vetted and approved by us: trustedtrader.team/Suffolk/
• ask for the full name & address from a trader before considering dealing with them, and never rely solely on a mobile phone number
• ask for a written quotation detailing all the proposed work and a final price for the job BEFORE the work is started
• only pay once the work is completed to your satisfaction, don't pay up front for materials, don't pay cash

Festival and concert goers looking to get last minute tickets to this summer’s top events are urged to be on their guard against fraudulent sellers, as new data reveals almost £6.7 million was lost to ticket fraud last year.

Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, has launched a ticket fraud awareness campaign, warning people to be alert to fraudsters trying to catch out people planning for popular and sold-out events. 

Last year more than 8,700 people reported they had been a victim ticket fraud nationally, with a total of £6.7 million lost. This works out to an average loss of £772 per victim. 

In 2023, 53 people in Suffolk reported they had been a victim ticket fraud, with a total of £39,443 lost. This works out at an average loss of £744 per report.

The warning comes ahead of the Glastonbury Festival ticket resale and before top summer events, such as Taylor Swift’s sell out Eras tour.

How to protect yourself from ticket fraud:

• Only buy tickets from the venue’s box office, the promoter, an official agent or a well-known and reputable ticket exchange site.
• Avoid paying for tickets by bank transfer, especially if buying from someone unknown. Credit card or payment services such as PayPal give you a better chance of recovering the money if you become a victim of fraud.
• The password you use for your email account, as well as any other accounts you use to purchase tickets, should be different from all your other passwords. Use three random words to create a strong and memorable password, and enable 2-step verification (2SV).
• Be wary of unsolicited emails, texts or adverts offering unbelievably good deals on tickets.
• Is the vendor a member of Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR)? If they are, the company has signed up to their strict governing standards. STAR also offers an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution service to help customers with outstanding complaints. For more information visit star.org.uk/buy_safe.

We’ve had reports that doorstep callers known as "Nottingham Knockers" or "duster sellers" have been  calling at properties across Mid-Suffolk and in Ipswich over the past week.

These individuals are claiming to have been in prison and are on a youth offending scheme, attempting to mend their ways. The individuals go on to then try and sell the householder everyday household products at very high prices.

Trading Standards always advise residents to refrain from buying at the doorstep and not to buckle to pressure from salespeople offering supposedly one-off ‘buy it now’ low prices.

The individuals work in groups across the country pretending to be working on behalf of a charity, to support their family, or that they are ex-offenders working as part of a rehabilitation scheme. Many do not possess Pedlar’s Certificates, which are issued by police.

If you are approached at the door, please refuse to buy.

Report all doorstep callers to us via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.

If you would like to receive a FREE No Cold Calling sticker for your door, please email us with your address on trading.standards@suffolk.gov.uk

Unilever is recalling Magnum Almond Ice Cream Sticks, (3x100ml), because of the possible presence of plastic and metal. The possible presence of plastic and metal makes the product unsafe to eat.

Pack size 3x100ml
Batch code L3338, L3339, L3340, L3341 and L3342
Best before end of December 2025

If you have bought the above product do not eat it. Instead, any customers with queries or concerns can contact the careline team for further guidance on 0800146252 or email ukicare@unilever.com.

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Thule recall their RideAlong Rear-Mounted Child Bike Seats as it poses a chemical hazard.

The product presents a chemical risk as the harness padding can contain excess concentrations of the flame-retardant DecaBDE, which can be toxic if ingested or if it comes into contact with skin or eyes.

The affected products have been withdrawn from the market and recalled. For further information, please access the Thule recall notice at the following link:https://support.thule.com/s/product-recall/thule-ridealong

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