Not rogue traders but criminals

I believe that if Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards were to publish the details of the court cases once or if convicted through the local media it may be a lesson to other unscrupulous counterfeit traders who knowingly sell fake goods to the unsuspecting consumer and risk their liberty by doing so.

The stall holders are often referred to as ‘rogue traders’ and this title brings to mind the antics of Del-Boy and Rodney in Only Fools and Horses but most if not all of these crooks are knowingly selling us fake foreign electrical goods which can and will kill us or seriously injure us and our families or CDs or DVDs with inferior packaging. On the other hand of course are the consumers who actively encourage these people by knowingly buying fake goods and are in my opinion are as much to blame as the traders.

My personal experience of being a victim was a few years ago when I drove my young son to Wellesbourne because he had some birthday cash to spend, I stayed in the car because it was near Christmas and the crowds were uninviting, he came back about half an hour later with what he thought was a Superdry T-shirt only to discover that it was an obvious fake and not what he ordered. I went to the stall holder and demanded the shirt on show but was immediately surrounded by the rest of his family in what seemed like a very well practised procedure, I did get a full refund but not before I pretended to phone the police (in hindsight I should have done)

I have seldom been to Wellesbourne Market since but now I know that the criminals are being weeded out I am encouraged to return to what can be a great day out.

At this point I would like to add that the vast majority of stall holders in Warwickshire and in particular Wellesbourne are completely legitimate and welcome the more frequent visits of Trading Standards.

As well as Trading Standards and Citizens Advice there is an excellent website called Action Fraud where you can report fraud online http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ There is also a telephone number 0300 1232040 or contact Consumer Direct on 0845 4040506. Finally there is a phrase on the Action Fraud website which I find suitable: “If something seems too good to be true for example a Rolex watch being sold for £10, it probably is. Don’t be fooled into thinking you’re getting a great deal”

Mick Spall, Bury Road, Leamington