Trading Standards

SMR and Trading Standards Joint Statement
On Friday 4th September 2009 Birmingham Trading Standards met with two of the Directors from SMR Entertainment Ltd who are the promoters of the Monarchy Live festival which was due to take place on Saturday 4th July 2009 at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire

During the meeting the Directors explained how much time and effort had gone into arranging the event and subsequently the reasons behind having to postpone it.They have stated that they would like to apologise to everyone who purchased tickets They said that a combination of factors including poor ticket sales and the current economic climate they had no choice but to postpone the event.

SMR Entertainment Ltd have advised us that they are now working towards securing funding from outside sources in order to provide the refunds that are outstanding.The Directors said that they cannot give a definite time scale when refunds will be paid but would aim to provide all refunds by the end of the year.

Anyone who purchased tickets via Credit Card and spent over £100 should contact their Credit Card Company.

We are advised that tickets bought from other ticket agents such as Ticket Seller should be refunded forthwith.

If you are outstanding any monies from PayPal you should write to the company at the registered office of the company at SMR Entertainment Ltd, 314 The Green House, The Custard Factory, Birmingham, B9 4AA and then send a copy to Birmingham Trading Standards.

Birmingham Trading Standards will continue to work with representatives of SMR Entertainment Ltd to resolve these issues.

Good Service? Tell us about it and win a prize!
e-mail:tradingstandards@birmingham.gov.uk

Alternatively you can write to us at:
Trading Standards,
Ladbrooke House,
Bordesley Street,
Digbeth,
Birmingham B5 5BL.

FRASER McKENZIE/ PPI/ BARCLAYS PARTNER FINANCE, ADVICE AND INFORMATION.

The advice for anyone who has been affected by the situation involving Fraser McKenzie/ PPI or Barclays Partner Finance is as follows:

Fraser McKenzie has closed its offices in and around the Birmingham area; it appears to have ceased trading but has not gone into administration. PPI has gone into administration. We believe that PPI has been taken over by another company called Red Tray. You may have received a letter from Red Tray advising you that it is taking over the training. Regardless as to whether you wish to take up the offer of training with Red Tray you should read the following.

In the first instance you should ensure you have registered your complaint with Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.

Although Fraser McKenzie is still showing as an active company on Companies House records, the reality is that it has not filed its accounts. For this reason consumers may wish to exercise caution when considering how successful any claim might be against Fraser McKenzie.

Under s.75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 creditors may be considered to be jointly and severally liable. If you were told that you were attending a job interview and believe that you were then mis-sold your loan, you should write to the loan provider (in this case Barclays Partner Finance) detailing why you believe this to be the case. To make a S.75 claim you should state in big bold letters across the top of the letter:

S.75 CLAIM
CONSUMER CREDIT ACT

You will then need to explain in detail the circumstances of your complaint and why you believe you have a claim under the above legislation. You will need to ask the finance company to release you from the agreement and clear you of any liability for the debt. If you fail to resolve your complaint with the loan company you may contact the Financial Services Authority on 0300 500 5000 or the Financial Ombudsman on 0845 0801800.

If you still have not resolved your complaint satisfactorily then you may take civil action against the loan provider in the Small Claims Court. In order to do this your total claim must be less than £5000 at the time you commence proceedings. If you delay taking action it is possible that Barclays Partner Finance might, under the terms of the agreement, add interest to your loan, which could take your claim beyond the £5000 limit. It is therefore in your interest to act quickly if you intend to do so. You should be aware that bringing an action in this way might take several months. There is a cost to taking action, which is based on the total amount of your claim. Further information and advice on fees and the Small Claims procedure can be obtained directly from HM Courts Service on 0121 681 4441.

In order to follow the Small Claims Procedure, you will need to send the loan company a letter which clearly states PRE COURT LETTER in bold letters across the top of the letter and state your intention to take the matter to court; you should make it clear that unless you receive a response within 14 days you will issue a summons. You will need to request a court pack (which contains the relevant forms) from the Small Claims Court on 0121 681 4441. You will also need to gather together as much evidence as possible.

If your loan amount is over £5000 you will be unable to use the Small Claims Court procedure and you will need to contact a solicitor for further advice.

If you do not make payments to the loan provider and fall into arrears without having the account put on hold, the loan provider may take you to court to seek a judgement against you. If this should happen it may affect your credit rating although ultimately you will have the opportunity to explain your situation to the judge, but if the judgement is made against you, you may end up with a County Court Judgement (CCJ) against your name.

A letter template is attached should you wish to use it.

This web page will be updated with the latest advice if and when the situation changes.

We Have Moved
On 27th February 2009 the Consumer Centre closed and the Trading Standards service moved to Ladbrooke House, Bordesley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 5BL.

Telephone: Trading Standards for advice on 0121 303 6031 between the hours of:
9.00 to 5.00 Monday to Thursday,
9.00 to 4.00 on Fridays and
9.30 to 4.30 on Saturdays.

Personal Visit: at our office in Ladbrooke House, Bordesley Street, Digbeth, B5 5BL between the hours of
9.00 to 5.00 Monday to Thursday,
9.00 to 4.00 on Fridays.

Please note that we cannot see personal callers at Ladbrooke House on Saturdays.

No Cold Calling Zones
Three 'No Cold Calling' Zones have been set up in Birmingham. These are in Sheldon/Garretts Green, Sparkhill, Yardley. For more information and to see a map of the zones, select No Cold Calling Zones

Counterfeiting Hotline
Do you want to complain about counterfeit goods? Trading Standards has set up a Counterfeiting Hotline which allows you to contact us in confidence and pass on any information you have. We will investigate and take action where appropriate. To contact the hotline call: 0121 303 9367.

Clamping - advice for motorists
Last minute shopping? Need somewhere to park? Tempted to use that waste ground or company car park? Beware, land owners are increasingly using car clampers to catch drivers who park on their land.The cost to the driver can be considerable and your car could be towed away. Look around for warning notices - they may be hidden away so check carefully. Don't be reassured because other cars are parked there - they may be part of the trap! If in doubt, park elsewhere. For more advice including what to do if you are clamped see our Car Clamping guidance leaflet which is attached below.

We'd like to hear your views
Your views are important to us so we would be grateful if you would take the time to complete a very brief Consumer Awareness Survey

Trading Standards is about protecting your interests, as a consumer or a business, by checking that traders operate within Trading Standards laws.

Contacting Trading Standards.

You can use the Trading Standards Online Form to request our help or advice.

Trading Standards' advice and enquiry telephone number is: 0121 303 6031.

or e-mail us at tradingstandards@birmingham.gov.uk
For information for businesses contact: 0121 303 9161


Your Views
We want to hear from you with any compliments, comments or complaints you have about our services.
Contact:
Head of Trading Standards
Birmingham Trading Standards
Ladbrooke House
Bordesley Street
Birmingham
B5 5BL.

Telephone: 0121 303 6121
Fax: 0121 303 6124
Or e-mail to: tradingstandards@birmingham.gov.uk

You can find general information about Trading Standards and also access leaflets for both consumers and traders at Advice to Consumers and Advice to Business pages or the Trading Standards Institute web site.

Equal Opportunities

• We will provide information in large print, Braille or on cassette tape when requested.
• We will translate any documents or arrange for a translator if you need one.
• A text phone and an induction loop system are available at our Consumer Centre to callers with hearing difficulties.
• The Consumer Centre is accessible to wheelchair users.
• We will arrange home visits on request.
  

SMR and Trading Standards Joint Statement
On Friday 4th September 2009 Birmingham Trading Standards met with two of the Directors from SMR Entertainment Ltd who are the promoters of the Monarchy Live festival which was due to take place on Saturday 4th July 2009 at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire

During the meeting the Directors explained how much time and effort had gone into arranging the event and subsequently the reasons behind having to postpone it.They have stated that they would like to apologise to everyone who purchased tickets They said that a combination of factors including poor ticket sales and the current economic climate they had no choice but to postpone the event.

SMR Entertainment Ltd have advised us that they are now working towards securing funding from outside sources in order to provide the refunds that are outstanding.The Directors said that they cannot give a definite time scale when refunds will be paid but would aim to provide all refunds by the end of the year.

Anyone who purchased tickets via Credit Card and spent over £100 should contact their Credit Card Company.

We are advised that tickets bought from other ticket agents such as Ticket Seller should be refunded forthwith.

If you are outstanding any monies from PayPal you should write to the company at the registered office of the company at SMR Entertainment Ltd, 314 The Green House, The Custard Factory, Birmingham, B9 4AA and then send a copy to Birmingham Trading Standards.

Birmingham Trading Standards will continue to work with representatives of SMR Entertainment Ltd to resolve these issues.

Good Service? Tell us about it and win a prize!
e-mail:tradingstandards@birmingham.gov.uk

Alternatively you can write to us at:
Trading Standards,
Ladbrooke House,
Bordesley Street,
Digbeth,
Birmingham B5 5BL.

FRASER McKENZIE/ PPI/ BARCLAYS PARTNER FINANCE, ADVICE AND INFORMATION.

The advice for anyone who has been affected by the situation involving Fraser McKenzie/ PPI or Barclays Partner Finance is as follows:

Fraser McKenzie has closed its offices in and around the Birmingham area; it appears to have ceased trading but has not gone into administration. PPI has gone into administration. We believe that PPI has been taken over by another company called Red Tray. You may have received a letter from Red Tray advising you that it is taking over the training. Regardless as to whether you wish to take up the offer of training with Red Tray you should read the following.

In the first instance you should ensure you have registered your complaint with Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.

Although Fraser McKenzie is still showing as an active company on Companies House records, the reality is that it has not filed its accounts. For this reason consumers may wish to exercise caution when considering how successful any claim might be against Fraser McKenzie.

Under s.75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 creditors may be considered to be jointly and severally liable. If you were told that you were attending a job interview and believe that you were then mis-sold your loan, you should write to the loan provider (in this case Barclays Partner Finance) detailing why you believe this to be the case. To make a S.75 claim you should state in big bold letters across the top of the letter:

S.75 CLAIM
CONSUMER CREDIT ACT

You will then need to explain in detail the circumstances of your complaint and why you believe you have a claim under the above legislation. You will need to ask the finance company to release you from the agreement and clear you of any liability for the debt. If you fail to resolve your complaint with the loan company you may contact the Financial Services Authority on 0300 500 5000 or the Financial Ombudsman on 0845 0801800.

If you still have not resolved your complaint satisfactorily then you may take civil action against the loan provider in the Small Claims Court. In order to do this your total claim must be less than £5000 at the time you commence proceedings. If you delay taking action it is possible that Barclays Partner Finance might, under the terms of the agreement, add interest to your loan, which could take your claim beyond the £5000 limit. It is therefore in your interest to act quickly if you intend to do so. You should be aware that bringing an action in this way might take several months. There is a cost to taking action, which is based on the total amount of your claim. Further information and advice on fees and the Small Claims procedure can be obtained directly from HM Courts Service on 0121 681 4441.

In order to follow the Small Claims Procedure, you will need to send the loan company a letter which clearly states PRE COURT LETTER in bold letters across the top of the letter and state your intention to take the matter to court; you should make it clear that unless you receive a response within 14 days you will issue a summons. You will need to request a court pack (which contains the relevant forms) from the Small Claims Court on 0121 681 4441. You will also need to gather together as much evidence as possible.

If your loan amount is over £5000 you will be unable to use the Small Claims Court procedure and you will need to contact a solicitor for further advice.

If you do not make payments to the loan provider and fall into arrears without having the account put on hold, the loan provider may take you to court to seek a judgement against you. If this should happen it may affect your credit rating although ultimately you will have the opportunity to explain your situation to the judge, but if the judgement is made against you, you may end up with a County Court Judgement (CCJ) against your name.

A letter template is attached should you wish to use it.

This web page will be updated with the latest advice if and when the situation changes.

We Have Moved
On 27th February 2009 the Consumer Centre closed and the Trading Standards service moved to Ladbrooke House, Bordesley Street, Digbeth, Birmingham B5 5BL.

Telephone: Trading Standards for advice on 0121 303 6031 between the hours of:
9.00 to 5.00 Monday to Thursday,
9.00 to 4.00 on Fridays and
9.30 to 4.30 on Saturdays.

Personal Visit: at our office in Ladbrooke House, Bordesley Street, Digbeth, B5 5BL between the hours of
9.00 to 5.00 Monday to Thursday,
9.00 to 4.00 on Fridays.

Please note that we cannot see personal callers at Ladbrooke House on Saturdays.

No Cold Calling Zones
Three 'No Cold Calling' Zones have been set up in Birmingham. These are in Sheldon/Garretts Green, Sparkhill, Yardley. For more information and to see a map of the zones, select No Cold Calling Zones

Counterfeiting Hotline
Do you want to complain about counterfeit goods? Trading Standards has set up a Counterfeiting Hotline which allows you to contact us in confidence and pass on any information you have. We will investigate and take action where appropriate. To contact the hotline call: 0121 303 9367.

Clamping - advice for motorists
Last minute shopping? Need somewhere to park? Tempted to use that waste ground or company car park? Beware, land owners are increasingly using car clampers to catch drivers who park on their land.The cost to the driver can be considerable and your car could be towed away. Look around for warning notices - they may be hidden away so check carefully. Don't be reassured because other cars are parked there - they may be part of the trap! If in doubt, park elsewhere. For more advice including what to do if you are clamped see our Car Clamping guidance leaflet which is attached below.

We'd like to hear your views
Your views are important to us so we would be grateful if you would take the time to complete a very brief Consumer Awareness Survey

Trading Standards is about protecting your interests, as a consumer or a business, by checking that traders operate within Trading Standards laws.

Contacting Trading Standards.

You can use the Trading Standards Online Form to request our help or advice.

Trading Standards' advice and enquiry telephone number is: 0121 303 6031.

or e-mail us at tradingstandards@birmingham.gov.uk
For information for businesses contact: 0121 303 9161


Your Views
We want to hear from you with any compliments, comments or complaints you have about our services.
Contact:
Head of Trading Standards
Birmingham Trading Standards
Ladbrooke House
Bordesley Street
Birmingham
B5 5BL.

Telephone: 0121 303 6121
Fax: 0121 303 6124
Or e-mail to: tradingstandards@birmingham.gov.uk

You can find general information about Trading Standards and also access leaflets for both consumers and traders at Advice to Consumers and Advice to Business pages or the Trading Standards Institute web site.

Equal Opportunities

• We will provide information in large print, Braille or on cassette tape when requested.
• We will translate any documents or arrange for a translator if you need one.
• A text phone and an induction loop system are available at our Consumer Centre to callers with hearing difficulties.
• The Consumer Centre is accessible to wheelchair users.
• We will arrange home visits on request.