Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Residents and businesses in Carmarthenshire are being warned about a telephone IT scam doing the rounds. Carmarthenshire Trading Standards has issued the warning as it appears offices are being targeted across the county by telephone callers claiming to be from Microsoft. With such scams victims are cold called, usually by phone, and told that there is a problem with their computer and for a nominal fee the caller can fix it. The callers often claim to be working with Microsoft who have identified that the computer has been infected with a virus and offer an update or fix. The victims are talked through the log-on steps in order for the fraudster to gain remote access to the computer. The victims will then often witness the mouse moving and changes being made to the display. They then pay a fee (anything between £100 and £300 has been reported to Action Fraud) and are told the problem has been resolved. Once the initial payment has been processed it is not uncommon for additional lar...

Carmarthenshire Trading Standards say the jailing of a Bynea businessman should sound a warning to others thinking about conning their customers with shoddy services and dangerous goods. The team were present at Swansea Crown Court to see Paul Berian Lloyd, owner of van conversion company Race Passion/Vdub Passion, jailed for eight months for a catalogue of offences relating to the sale, supply, conversion and restoration of camper vans. The 48-year-old, from Porth Y Gar, Bynea, admitted conning his customers out of thousands of pounds following lengthy investigations by Carmarthenshire County Council’s Trading Standards team. This week’s appearance in court was his second in two years. In March 2015 he was sentenced to four months imprisonment, suspended for two years, after admitting to nine counts under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations and two under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005. Activating that sentence, and imposing a further four month sente...

Giant discount retailer Poundworld has been prosecuted by Carmarthenshire County Council and ordered to pay more than £190,000 in fines and costs after selling thousands of faulty phone charger kits with forged safety test certificates to consumers in the UK. In handing down a written sentence on Monday (December 5, 2016), Judge Richard Williams said Poundworld Retail Ltd failed to exercise due diligence in testing and certifying products it imported into the EU from China, and instead only paid ‘lip service’ to essential testing procedures. More than 72,000 charger kits are known to have been sold by Poundworld at its Discount UK/Bargain Buys stores, but with no evidence to show how many it has successfully recalled, Judge Williams said it was reasonable to presume that a substantial number of them remain in use, presenting a significant material risk of fire or electric shock to consumers. Customers who think they may have bought the kit are now urged to stop using it immediately a...

The work of Carmarthenshire Trading Standards to support the wellbeing of vulnerable people has been recognised with a national public health award. A poster illustrating the team’s innovative Financial Exploitation Safeguarding Scheme (FESS) won the top award at the Wales Public Health Conference earlier this month. FESS works not only to prevent fraud and identify victims but also protects them from further exploitation by putting a range of measures in place from social care and housing teams. It also forms part of an academic research project undertaken with Cardiff University to evaluate Trading Standards Interventions from a health and social care perspective. Evidence has already linked the experience or threat of fraud to ill health – in particular mental health, with many older victims suffering from emotional, social and medical stresses. Left unattended, this can often lead to increased burdens on health and social care services. The Carmarthenshire Trading Standards team ...

Carmarthenshire’s Trading Standards team is urging people to think twice before providing their details to cold callers after dealing with a spate of local complaints relating to cavity wall insulation. The team has spoken to several people concerned about doorstep callers claiming to be able to assist with claims associated with incorrectly installed cavity wall insulation or disrepair. Householders are being encouraged to sign up for a claim, and provide personal details. Carmarthenshire County Council tenants are amongst those who have received visits from the cold callers, however the council has confirmed that it is in no way connected with the callers. The Trading Standards team is now re-issuing advice to help protect the public, and is urging anyone with information or concerns to contact them immediately on 03454 04 05 06. The advice includes: If in doubt, keep them out Always ask for an identity card and look up the organisation to check the salesperson’s identity is correc...

Parents are being urged to take care when dressing their children up in costumes for Halloween. Carmarthenshire County Council’s Trading Standards team and the Community Safety Partnership are warning parents to ensure flammable costume materials are kept well away from naked flames. The flammability of costumes has featured in the media since a tragic accident involving the eight-year-old daughter of Strictly Come Dancing star Claudia Winkleman, who suffered severe burns when her witch costume caught fire after allegedly coming into contact with or close to a pumpkin candle on Halloween 2014. Cllr Jim Jones, Executive Board Member for Public Protection, said: “We urge parents to take extra care when children are wearing costumes near candles and naked flames this Halloween.” Cllr Pam Palmer, Chair of the Carmarthenshire Community Safety Partnership, added: “The tragic accident involving Claudia Winkleman’s daughter should serve as a reminder of the dangers of flammable materials. ...

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Environmental Health and Trading Standards team is urging anyone who has recently had a body piercing to check the after-care solution they may have been provided, following an outbreak of pseudomonas infection in other parts of the UK. The team has issued a product safety alert to all businesses licensed to carry out body piercing in Carmarthenshire, asking them to check their stock of after care products for those manufactured by Lion Care Products Ltd, trading as Body Art Supplies. The alert notice is specifically for a saline solution supplied by this manufacturer in 100ml spray bottles, which has been distributed across the UK and available online. Pseudomonas is a bacterial infection which can lead to tissue damage or septic shock. Whilst no infections have been reported or identified in Carmarthenshire, 24 people - mainly in the Northampton and Reigate area - have required treatment for pseudomonas, including seven who have required surgery. It...

People in Carmarthenshire are being urged to be on the guard about a telephone scam where the caller claims to be from BT call minder service. Carmarthenshire Trading Standards has received a report from a concerned resident saying they had received a call from BT offering to block nuisance calls for a fee. The caller then goes on to ask for a debit or credit card number. People are being advised that this is a scam. Anyone who receives a similar call should hang up. Do not provide any personal or financial information to the caller. If you have provided information, and believe you have been scammed, please contact our Trading Services department. Cllr Jim Jones, Executive Board Member for Public Protection, said: “This appears to be an attempt to solicit monies from vulnerable people and we urge people to spread the word and be on their guard against this scam. Fortunately the resident in this case grew suspicious and ended the conversation before any card details were given. We h...

Carmarthenshire’s Trading Standards team is urging anyone who has a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 to return it as soon as possible for a refund or exchange. Millions of mobile phones have been recalled by the firm after reports of batteries exploding and handsets catching fire. As of September 1, there have been 35 cases reported globally. Owners are being advised to check the Samsung website to find out if their phone is affected, however all customers can return their phones for a refund or an exchange for a different handset. Samsung has confirmed it has now stopped production of the Galaxy Note 7. Cllr Jim Jones, Executive Board Member for Public Protection, said: “Anyone who is concerned about the safety of their Samsung mobile should check the manufacturer’s website for further information. However, anyone who has a Galaxy Note 7 handset should return it immediately for a full refund or exchange.” For further information on returning or exchanging the Galaxy Note 7 handset, visit www....

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Executive Board Member for Public Protection, Cllr Jim Jones, has received a Hero Award from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI). Councillor Jones, who has championed Trading Standards since taking up his position on the council’s Executive Board in 2012, was nominated for his role in developing the Financial Exploitation Safeguarding Scheme (FESS), a multi-agency safeguarding scheme aimed at early intervention and the prevention of fraud and financial abuse. CTSI president Baroness Christine Crawley presented him with the Hero Award at the institute’s annual Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards Conference and Exhibition in Telford, this week. Baroness Crawley said: "Jim has been instrumental in getting the hard work of trading standards recognised by the right people, always encouraging them to understand the important role that the service plays in consumer protection. "Many campaigns that put consumers at the heart of their...

Carmarthenshire’s Trading Standards team has influenced a policy change at one of the UK’s biggest restaurant chains following a routine visit to check alcohol measures and labelling. Officers visited a local branch of the restaurant chain to check labelling and alcohol content in wines and spirits being offered for sale at the bar as part of a survey devised by the Trading Standards team. The alcohol content in a range of spirits was found to differ from that stated on the label. On further investigation it was found that alcohol had evaporated as a result of the way it was being stored, possibly exacerbated by the heat of lighting and conditions in the bar area. Following the Carmarthenshire Trading Standards investigation, the restaurant’s policy of displaying spirits on the bar with open pourers has been changed nationwide. Cllr Jim Jones, Executive Board Member for Public Protection, said: “Our Trading Standards team is working hard to protect consumers and ensure that they are ...

Carmarthenshire County Council is one of only three Welsh local authorities to be named a finalist at The MJ Awards 2016 . The authority’s Trading Standards team is leading the charge for the MJ Achievement Awards across three separate categories, for its innovative work in protecting vulnerable people against scams and fraud, and educating the next generation about financial management. The team is up for awards in the Delivering Better Outcomes and Innovation in Partnership categories for its Financial Exploitation Safeguarding Scheme (FESS), a multi-agency scheme established by Carmarthenshire Trading Standards in 2014. The first of its kind in Wales, FESS works not only to prevent fraud and identify victims but also protects them from further exploitation by putting support in place from social care and housing teams. All Halifax and Barclays branches in the county are members of the scheme, as are every Citizens Advice Bureau in Carmarthenshire. Staff receive specialist tra...

Carmarthenshire Trading Standards are advising people to think twice before agreeing to pay cold callers for gardening and home improvements, and instead use the council’s Registered Traders Scheme. Their advice comes as police investigate reports that rogue traders are targeting older people in the Llangunnor, Burry Port and Llangennech areas. Several people have reported that they have been charged large sums of money for work such as gardening and gutter cleaning, and that the work is not completed or carried out to a satisfactory standard. The reports also confirm that no paperwork is being provided, therefore leaving the customer without cancellation rights or contact details for the business. Trading Standards are working with police to investigate the issue, but in the meantime are advising people to be on their guard against cold callers, and to help elderly neighbours by keeping an eye out in the community. The council’s Registered Trader Scheme lists a number of local handy...

Carmarthenshire’s Trading Standards team is warning people to be on their guard against scammers, and asking people to look out for the welfare of elderly relatives, neighbours and friends. Their warning came on National Safeguarding Day, when Trading Standards teams across the country joined forces to raise awareness of scams. Here in Carmarthenshire, the team has dealt with thousands of pounds worth of fraud in the last 12 months alone – mostly concerning older people and those vulnerable through ill health. They include a Burry Port man conned out of £50,000 in bogus lotteries; a St Clear’s woman who lost £4,500 in a series of scam prize draws; an Ammanford man who lost more than £40,000 by buying overpriced vitamin supplements; and a Llanelli man conned out of his life savings worth £75,000 in scams involving diamonds, fine wine and art. The scams came to light through the national Scams Hub, and also through the Financial Exploitation Safeguarding Scheme (FESS) – a multi-agenc...

Carmarthenshire residents are being advised to be on their guard following a spate of high pressure sales calls from companies demanding up-front payment for boilers and home energy improvements. The council’s Trading Standards team is investigating a number of reports from people who claim they have been pressurised by cold callers in to paying money for goods or services they don’t actually need. Their advice is to be wary of sales people who ‘cold call’, to take time to think over any offers, and do some research before agreeing to sign up to a contract. Cllr Jim Jones, Executive Board Member for Public Protection, said: “Be wary of giving your bank or card details to anyone who has called you up or knocked on your door out of the blue offering you goods or services. “There are many reputable firms out there that do provide services to help you reduce your home energy costs, but some unscrupulous firms are exploiting people and pressuring them in to signing contracts and paying l...

A financial education programme developed by Carmarthenshire County Council is being showcased at a national Trading Standards conference next week. Money Wise ( Synnwyr Arian ) is a web-based resource designed by the council’s Trading Standards team and education department to help people, in particular children and young families, to understand the concept of money – where it comes from and how to save and spend wisely. A small team of officers are attending the Chartered Trading Standards Institute conference to market the programme and spread the word about the proactive work being undertaken in Carmarthenshire to help protect people from financial problems. If other authorities are interested in rolling the programme out in their areas, it could generate income for Carmarthenshire which would be invested to develop more innovative schemes. Cllr Jim Jones, Executive Board Member for Public Protection, said: “This is a great opportunity to show Trading Standards professionals ...

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Trading Standards team are reminding sunbed operators of their responsibilities ahead of the summer season, when people are more tempted to top up their tans. They are carrying our unannounced inspections and testing as part of their remit to ensure sunbed salons and beauty spas are operating legally and safely. One of their checks is to test the level of UV radiation emitted by each bed, which must fall within the levels permitted by European legislation. So far, around 94 per cent of beds tested pass, compared to less than half - 47 per cent - in 2013. “Whilst this is encouraging, we want to see a 100 per cent pass rate,” said Cllr Jim Jones, Executive Board Member for Public Protection. “Our unannounced inspections help to ensure that all sunbed operators take their responsibility to supply a ‘safe’ product seriously. “Of course, as always - with increasing evidence that the use of sunbeds increases the risk of skin cancer - we would prefer that pe...

Leading councillors in Carmarthenshire have welcomed a proposed ban on legal highs. The move was unveiled in the Queen’s Speech this week as part of a 26-bill package put forward by the Government at Westminster. Carmarthenshire’s trading standards team has carried out a recent crackdown on so-called ‘legal highs’. An illegal product was seized from two Carmarthenshire businesses, and another business voluntarily surrendered it, as part of the initiative. The team has been working with the Home Office to bring about changes in the law which will allow them greater powers. Executive Board Member for Public Protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “This proposed change in the law is good news, which we welcome. “In many cases our hands are tied behind our backs, as the current law does not allow us to take the kind of action we would like to get these products off the shelves.” Officers are continuing to seize illegal products from businesses, and to advise businesses about the sale of so-calle...

An illegal product has been seized from two Carmarthenshire businesses, and another business has voluntarily surrendered it, as part of a Trading Standards crack down on so-called ‘legal highs’. Officers seized the product ‘Amsterdam Gold’, also labelled as ‘Liquid Gold’, after finding it contravened the General Products Safety Regulations 2005 and The Chemicals (Hazard Information and Packaging for Supply) Regulations 2009. The businesses found selling the product cannot be identified pending possible prosecution. Samples of other substances bought from a number of Carmarthenshire businesses by Trading Standards in test purchases are currently undergoing chemical analysis to determine whether they can be legally sold. Traders have been asked to cease selling any similar products until their safety can be confirmed. Carmarthenshire County Council’s Trading Standards Manager Roger Edmunds said: “We are working proactively to seize illegal products from businesses, and to advise busine...

Uninvited salespeople will be committing a criminal offence if they attempt to cold call anyone living in Cilycwm, which has been named Carmarthenshire’s first No Cold Calling Village. The measure, supported by the community council, offers all residents in the village protection from salespeople who turn up on their doorsteps. There are more than 50 No Cold Calling Zones throughout the county where older or vulnerable people live, or where there has been evidence of doorstep crime and problems with cold callers, but this is the first time the scheme has covered a whole village. Recent evaluations have shown them to be an effective deterrent. Trading Standards and Dyfed Powys Police have worked together to launch the scheme. Cllr Jim Jones, Executive Board Member for Public Protection, said: “This is a bold move, but one which we have fully supported for the benefit of all residents in Cilycwm. Doorstep callers cannot only be a nuisance, but in some cases a real danger to vulnerabl...