David Waters must pay £50,000 in proceeds of his crimes
The director of a Suffolk mobility furniture company which left customers significantly out of pocket has today been ordered to repay proceeds of his crimes. David Waters, 73, of Manwick Road, Felixstowe, was the sole director of Anchor Mobility, whose products were marketed as life-improving and largely aimed at elderly and disabled people. He was sentenced to 32 months in prison after Ipswich Crown Court found Anchor Mobility guilty of 15 counts of unfair commercial practice at a hearing in December 2019. These offences included fraudulent trading, poor customer service, and misleading consumers by taking large deposits with the promise of delivering goods without ever doing so. One customer paid over £8,000 for two beds, which were never delivered, and no refund was ever received. Suffolk Trading Standards uncovered the fraud after several victims made complaints about the company, leading them to launch an investigation into Anchor Mobility. This revealed more than 20 victims between 2016 and 2017 alone, who lost over £80,000 of their hard-earned savings. While Anchor Mobility was fined £15,000 for its offences in 2019, additional compensation has been sought by Suffolk Trading Standards for all known victims, with this resulting in a further hearing at Ipswich Crown Court today. The court ruled that Waters must repay £50,000 in proceeds from his crimes, reflecting the assets available to him. Waters is still banned from being a company director until 2029 and has also been made the subject of a criminal behaviour order, preventing him from selling products in a person’s home or having any involvement in a mobility aid company. Anyone who believes that they may have been the victim of a fraudulent trader should contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
Doorstep Trader Alerts
There have been multiple doorstep incidents in the last week, and as such we urge you to warn friends, family and neighbours to be on the look out for rogues operating in their area. We received a report of a trader calling at a property in Kesgrave on 6th June, offering to clean the gutters. The resident agreed to the work and the trader was due to return the next day. He demanded that when he returns £60 cash was required to be paid upfront. We were able to contact the trader and stop them from visiting but have received further reports that they may also have been in the Leiston area. A man in a van was going door to door in Stradishall on 6th June, offering garden furniture for sale. These individuals often visit Suffolk and use the same sales patter - “last one”, “great price” "ex-exhibition stock" etc. Nottingham Knockers were calling at properties in Coddenham on 7th June. These individuals claim 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. These Nottingham Knockers work in groups across the country but they are not involved in any officially recognised offender rehabilitation programme and many do not possess Pedlar’s Certificates, which are issued by police. Yesterday (8th June) Saxmundham residents were approached at the door by individuals claiming to be from BT. The individuals requested access to the property to look at their phone so that they could check their current Broadband speed. If you are approached at the door and are not expecting a caller, our advice is not to answer.
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 for the full name and 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
- only pay once the work is completed to your satisfaction, don't pay up front for materials, don't pay cash
Ensure your back door is locked if you are answering the front door to someone you don’t know. If you think a bogus caller has been to your home, call the police immediately on 999. Never let someone into your house because you don't want to seem rude or unsympathetic. Consider fitting a door chain and spy-hole to your front door; outside lighting can also help you identify callers. Never let anyone into your home unless you are satisfied about who they are and what they want. Public service employees are required to show identity cards when they come to your home. Examine the card carefully as fake cards have been used. The card should have a photograph and the name of the organisation. If you are at all worried, ring the organisation to check the caller is genuine. Use the telephone number given in the phone book or on your utility bill, rather than the one printed on the identity card. A genuine worker won't mind waiting. If you would like a FREE No Cold Calling sticker for your door, please email us with your full address to TradingStandards@suffolk.gov.uk
Rogue builder given a suspended prison sentence
Suffolk Trading Standards has successfully secured a conviction against Kevin Zizka for fraudulent and unfair trading, resulting in a suspended prison sentence and £27,841 in compensation for his victims. Zizka, 52, of Coronation Drive, Felixstowe, traded as KHF Building & Landscaping Ltd and operated across Suffolk. Complaints against the company quickly mounted after customers claimed that the work carried out by Zizka was dangerous and did not comply with building regulations or meet electrical safety standards. A court hearing on 4 February saw Zizka plead guilty to one count of Fraudulent Trading under Section 993 of the Companies Act 2006 and two counts of commercial practice which contravened the requirements of professional diligence under regulation 8 of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. He was subsequently sentenced to 4 months in prison for each count (to run concurrently), suspended for 18 months, at Ipswich Magistrates Court on Friday 27 May. In addition, the court ruled that Zizka must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work, participate in rehabilitation activity, and is disqualified from being a company director for five years. He was also ordered to pay £27,841 in compensation to his victims, along with £10,000 in costs to Trading Standards. Four victims contacted Suffolk Trading Standards after paying thousands of pounds to Zizka for substandard home improvements involving the fitting of steel beams and electrical work, which prompted Trading Standards to launch an investigation into the rogue trader. One case saw a Felixstowe homeowner charged over £17,000 for the removal of a chimney breast, installation of steel beams and a kitchen renovation. Zizka left the job part way through, leaving the victim with essential parts of the chimney breast’s steel support rusting in their garden, and the remaining chimney inadequately supported. Electrical work carried out on the property was inspected by the Chief Technical Officer of NAPIT and found to be unsafe, with a potential risk of fire or serious injury to users. Another customer from Ipswich who employed Zizka to install a kitchen and fit steel beams to her property reported that the work had caused her ceiling to drop, opening a gap between the ground and first floor of the property that had to be propped up, after he ignored the advice of structural engineers and failed to fit the beams properly. On inspection from an independent chartered surveyor, these were found to pose serious safety concerns, and urgent remedial works were required due to a risk of collapse from the supporting walls. In addition to his dangerous work, Zizka fraudulently charged VAT to customers despite not being VAT registered with HMRC. He also took building control fees for applications but failed to submit these, and falsely claimed to be a member of Checkatrade to encourage customers to use his services. Anyone who believes that they may have been the victim of a fraudulent or substandard trader should contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
Over 80% of telescopic ladders tested failed to meet safety requirements
New research commissioned by the Ladder Association has raised serious concerns that unsafe and potentially dangerous ladders are being sold to unsuspecting consumers in the UK. The market surveillance study, in partnership with East of England Trading Standards Association (EETSA) and Suffolk Trading Standards Imports Team, put 17 telescopic ladders through their paces in a series of safety critical tests. The results make for some concerning reading… Over 80% of the telescopic ladders tested in the study failed to meet the minimum safety requirements designed to keep users safe. Worse still, over half of the failed ladders were marked and sold as ‘compliant’ in a deliberate attempt to mislead the public. You can read the full report here: https://ladderassociation.org.uk/step-up/
How can you make sure the telescopic ladders you buy are safe? Take some time to research before you buy. You can carry out a quick online check of the company or brand to check their business location and visibility in the market. If they don’t have a UK/EU address then it can make it much more difficult to contact them if you have an issue after you buy; Check product reviews. These are a great way of hearing first-hand from other consumers and often give valuable insight in the product quality, mainly if it falls below standard. But beware, some companies and brands post fake positive reviews, so read them carefully, note where the reviewer is based or how many reviews they have previously posted. Don’t make decisions solely on price. But, if something is very cheap, you should question why. That’s not to say it’s poor quality, but it’s certainly a prompt to make you do a bit more homework. Genuine quality products can cost more to manufacture due to the enhanced testing and cost of materials, but equally, a higher price doesn’t necessarily mean quality; Remember, online platforms take little or no responsibility for the quality or safety of the products sold on their platforms and place the responsibility for safety firmly with the seller. Don’t assume product safety and compliance checks have been carried out by them before they placed them online for sale; Equally, don’t assume physical stores sell only safe products. They could knowingly – or unknowingly – be stocking products that don’t meet standard. Check the labelling for print quality or spelling errors, check the product quality as best you can, and speak to the retailer themselves if you have any questions; Avoid ladders that are CE marked. Despite what you might think, ladders cannot be CE marked, so avoid any that bear that marking; When you receive your ladder, check it. Check the product, the instruction manual (every ladder should come with one) and the labelling on the ladder itself; If you think the ladder is unsafe, dangerous or not made to standard, firstly, don’t use it! You should then contact your local Trading Standards team via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
Forward scam text messages to 7726
Fraudsters continue to use text messages as a way to defraud you. They want access to your money and information, or for you to click on links which could download malware to your device. Instead of clicking the link, log into your account directly to update or check your information. If you receive a scam text message report it by forwarding it to 7726. If you think you might have responded to a text message scam and provided your bank account details, contact your bank immediately. Report all scams to us via 0808 223 1133.
Unsafe baby strollers detained at the Port of Felixstowe
In February and April of this year, our Imports Surveillance team stopped two consignments of baby strollers at the Port of Felixstowe. Initial examinations led them to believe that the strollers did not comply with product safety regulations and as such samples were sent away for testing. The strollers, which were destined for warehouses in England to eventually be sold online, were deemed unsafe for a number of reasons. The braking device failed on testing, the stroller failed structural integrity tests with one stroller fracturing during tests and the angle of the seat would mean a child could fall out. The harnesses also detached during testing. 55 strollers were detained in February, and 390 were detained in April. All have been destroyed so that they cannot be sold on to unsuspecting consumers. How can you make sure the stroller you buy is safe?
Take some time to research before you buy.
Check product reviews.
Don’t make decisions solely on price.
Prams and pushchairs should be permanently labelled to show that they conform to the safety standard; labels can usually be found on the frame or on the seat pad. You should also look for a label with the name, the trademark or other means of identification of the UK manufacturer, distributor or retailer. The Regulations state that clear essential warnings and safety information must be provided.
If you think the stroller is unsafe, don’t use it! You should then contact your local Trading Standards team via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
Waitrose Hot Smoked Rainbow Trout Fillets recalled
Waitrose is recalling Waitrose 2 British Hot Smoked Rainbow Trout Fillets because Listeria monocytogenes has been found in the product.
Pack size 125g
Use by 11 June 2022
Symptoms caused by this organism can be similar to flu and include high temperature, muscle ache or pain, chills, feeling or being sick, and diarrhoea. However, in rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications, such as meningitis. Some people are more vulnerable to listeria infections, including those over 65 years of age, pregnant women and their unborn babies, babies less than one month old and people with weakened immune systems. If you have bought the above product do not eat it. Instead, return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.