Summer safety tips; beware of online ticket scams; buying a used car
Heart of the South West Trading Standards Consumer news [
]
Inflatable flamingo, ring and lilos in a swimming pool
Stay safe this summer
Follow our tips to help keep your family safe while having fun in the sun - or rain - this summer.
*Sun safety*
* When buying sunglasses, look for the UKCA/CE mark, UV rating or British Standard BS EN ISO 12312.
* Suncream should be labelled with the manufacturer’s details as well as the ingredients. Always remember to re-apply regularly and after going in the water.
* Clothes for under-7s should not have drawstrings in the head/neck area.
*Summer toys*
* Toys should be labelled with the UKCA or CE mark, manufacturer’s address and any applicable warnings such as “Not suitable for children under 36 months”.
* Buy from a reputable trader, including when buying from an online business. Know who you are buying from!
* Check second-hand toys carefully for safety.
* Make sure any battery compartments are secure and batteries cannot be easily accessed.
* Rubber rings/armbands and water flotation products such as lilos should have a water safety warning saying they should be used under supervision and are not to be used in open water. Some products like armbands will be marked with the suitable age or weight range.
*In the garden*
* BBQs should be labelled with warnings about not using them indoors or in tents due to fire risks and dangers of carbon monoxide fumes.
* For more information on using BBQs safely, see Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service's barbecues guide [
].
* Trampolines for use by children at home should be UKCA or CE marked, with instructions about adult supervision and appropriate age warnings. For more safety advice see RoSPA's garden trampoline guide [
].
Learn more in our product safety guide [
].
If you have a problem with a product or need consumer advice, contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline online [
] or tel 0808 223 1133.
________________________________________________________________________
Crowd at a concert
Beware of scams when buying tickets online
Planning on heading to a big event this summer? In this clip from ITV's "This Morning" [
], consumer expert Alice Beer explains how to stay safe from scams when buying tickets online.
________________________________________________________________________
Most shops 'refuse' to sell vapes to children
An operation by Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service and supported by Devon and Cornwall Police has found that the majority of Plymouth businesses recently visited are complying with the law by refusing to sell vapes to children.
Read full story: Most shops ‘refuse’ to sell vapes to children [
].
________________________________________________________________________
Buying a used car
When buying a used car, there are steps you can take to help you avoid getting one that’s been badly damaged, stolen or illegally altered. These guides will help you do the right checks and explain what you can do if there is a problem:
* Citizens Advice guide to buying a used car [
].
* Trading Standards consumer guides about cars [
].
If you're looking for a car trader you can trust, you can search for Trading Standards Approved businesses through Buy With Confidence [
].
________________________________________________________________________
Stay safe from rogue traders
If you're thinking about getting work done on your home or garden this summer, beware of rogue traders and cold callers. When looking for a business to carry out work at your home, such as plumbing, roofing or gardening, follow our advice on finding a tradesperson [
].
________________________________________________________________________
Read more news from Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service. [
]
________________________________________________________________________
What do you think our priorities should be? Let us know in our short survey. [
]
________________________________________________________________________
*This newsletter is produced by the Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service [
]. **Commissioned by Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay Councils.*
Like us on Facebook [
]
Like us on Facebook [
]
X logo [
]
Follow us
[
]
on X [
]
Find us on LinkedIn [
]
Find us on LinkedIn [
]
*Office hours
*9am-4.30pm (Monday to Thursday).
9am-4pm (Friday).
*For consumer advice, call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline [
] on 0808 223 1133.*
For immediate, straightforward guidance on a range of consumer problems, read our free online consumer guides [
].
For business advice, visit our website [
] or contact us [
].
*For Trading Standards Approved Traders visit Buy With Confidence. [
]*
Buy With Confidence [
]
Please forward this email to anyone you think would find it useful and encourage them to sign up [
].
Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your subscriber preferences page [
]. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please contact Granicus 'subscriber help center' [
]. If you want to unsubscribe, click here [
]
This service is provided to you at no charge by Devon County Council [
].
Find out how we use and keep your information [
].
body .abe-column-block {min-height: 5px;} ________________________________________________________________________
This email was sent to david.stone@trustedcarcheck.co.uk using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Devon County Council · County Hall · Topsham Road · Exeter · Devon, EX2 4QD · 0345 155 1015 GovDelivery logo [
]
body .abe-column-block { min-height: 5px; } table.gd_combo_table img {margin-left:10px; margin-right:10px;} table.gd_combo_table div.govd_image_display img, table.gd_combo_table td.gd_combo_image_cell img {margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px;}