Be Black Friday Savvy: Everyone wants the deal of a lifetime on Black Friday, including potential scammers - to them, an unwitting shopper is the perfect present. To help you navigate the online Black Friday sales and avoid becoming easy prey, we’ve got some tips to bear in mind.
Buy from traders you know and trust - When it comes to shopping online, it's always safest to stick to familiar shops and brands that you know you can trust.
Don't trust blindly - Of course, even though these are trusted retailers, we're not advising you to trust blindly that they're giving you the best deal. According to an investigation by Which? 98% of the products in 2022's Black Friday sales had actually been cheaper in months before or after Black Friday.
Do some digging - There are some stores online that aren’t mainstream brands but are still trustworthy places to shop. If you feel you must shop with an unknown trader, make sure you research them first. Usually, the best thing to do is look for reviews of the website and a reliable way to contact the site owner that isn’t just email in the event your delivery goes wrong. The most obvious things to look out for that signal a scam website are, firstly, website quality and copy/editorial quality.
Pay securely - No matter where you’re shopping, always use a secure form of payment. This means opt for a credit card, a debit card, or even PayPal over any direct money transfers. Credit card is probably the most secure option in terms of shopper rights as you can dispute charges made if your item never arrives or dispute any suspicious charges generally.
Don't click on strange links - It doesn’t matter whether you’re on your laptop or on your phone or whether the link appears in your email inbox or pops up on your Facebook News Feed, don’t click any strange or unfamiliar ad links.
Update your antivirus software - Make sure your antivirus and phone software is up to date so that you don’t fall victim to any kind of malware is lying in wait.
Know your consumer rights - Check the retailers return policy, but also ensure you are fully aware of what your consumer rights are should anything go wrong - https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/consumer-rights-act-aKJYx8n5KiSl
If you need advice, to report a scam or an unsafe product, contact Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133.
Scam HMRC calls: We have received an increase in reports of scam HMRC calls to residents. The recorded messages threatens arrest due to outstanding debt. Do not press 1 or follow any other instructions given in an automated message If you receive a suspicious phone call, you can help HMRC’s investigations by providing:
- your phone number
- the caller’s phone number
- the time and date of the call
- a brief description of the call
Email them to phishing@hmrc.gov.uk.
If you think you may have given financial details to a scammer, contact your bank immediately.
Check Christmas lights: Unpacking your decorations this weekend? Make sure you check the electrical ones for signs of wear and tear, and throw away any that aren't up to scratch!
Check your lights are not damaged or broken before use and look out for loose wires.
Ensure all outdoor lights are connected via a 30mA RCD protected socket.
Switch your lights off and unplug them before you go to bed or go out.
Please remember, Christmas decorations are not toys, and should be kept out of reach of children as they do not meet the same safety standards. Take extra care with decorations or novelties with accessible button batteries. They can be lethal if a child swallows one. If you are buying any new electrical decorations, only buy them from reputable retailers and ensure they have a CE or UKCA mark. If you have any concerns about the safety of a product, stop using it immediately and report it to Trading Standards via 0808 223 1133.
Do you sell food on social media or via a website? The Food Standards Agency have some guidelines to help give you some ideas of different ways that you can display your food hygiene rating. This will ensure that you give your customers accurate information and can allow them to order with confidence. Their guidance gives some tops tips, such as displaying it as a pinned post or within your cover photo on Facebook and Twitter, as well as including it with each post you create on Facebook Marketplace. If you are an Instagram users they suggest using the stories function to post your rating, and then saving this as a prominent highlight. For more information have a look at their guidance here: https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/food-hygiene-rating-scheme-online-display-guidance
Carbon monoxide: Katie Haines passed away from CO poisoning aged 31 after the boiler at her home failed. Her parents, Avril and Gordon Samuel, are backing a campaign to encourage the use of life-saving alarms to mark Carbon Monoxide Awareness Week this week. It is a silent killer, you can’t see it, smell it, or taste it. It’s a reminder that the only way to detect it is with a carbon monoxide alarm! Avril and Gordon’s heart-breaking story highlights the very real dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and we would encourage everyone to get an alarm for their home to keep them and their family safe. Only around 15% of people have CO alarms, whereas around 85% have a smoke alarm so there is a real need to raise awareness. Poisoning symptoms can easily be confused with just feeling unwell, which is why CO poisoning is so dangerous and so often missed. Get your carbon burning appliances checked by registered engineers, get your chimneys swept by a registered sweep. At the campaign’s core is the audible carbon monoxide alarm - a small device with the power to be a lifesaver. Don’t hesitate, prioritise your safety today. It’s more than a device, it’s a promise to protect your loved ones. Find out more about the campaign, and watch interviews with Avril and Gordon here: https://www.coalarmssavelives.com/carbon-monoxide-awareness-week-23
It's time to prepare for cooler weather - make sure you're prepped with quality wood fuel, a clean chimney and a serviced appliance. Find your local fuel supplier on the Woodsure website: https://www.woodsure.co.uk/find-a-supplier Also have a look at their Advice Hub for wood storage guidance and tips on checking for moisture.
O2 recall: O2 is recalling a range of O2-branded plugs. The product presents a low risk of an electrical fault after several reports of black soot coming out of the product due to the capacitor overloading. This product recall affects a range of 45W and 20W O2-branded plugs, sold by O2 from August 2021–January 2023.
O2 Original 45W Mains Charger with USB-C to USB-C Cable
O2 Original 45W Mains Charger with USB-C to Lightning Cable
O2 Original 20W Mains Charger (without Cable)
O2 Original 20W Mains Charger with USB-C to USB-C Cable
O2 Original 20W Mains Charger with USB-C to Lightning Cable
Have one of the affected plugs? You can request a replacement by emailing O2support@exertis.co.uk and referencing the voluntary recall process. The Exertis team will arrange for one to be sent directly to your home address. O2 have not identified the cable as being a safety issue as part of the recall, so they are not recalling or replacing any cables. Only the plugs are subject to the recall and the offer to have them replaced. For more information, please see: https://www.o2.co.uk/help/safety-and-security/o2-original-plugs-voluntary-product-recall