Trading Standards

🚨FREE Webinar: Consumer Vulnerability Designed to help businesses better understand consumer vulnerability and their responsibilities when supporting consumers. 📅 Monday 27 April, 10:00–11:30 or Monday 22 June, 10:00–11:30 👉 Book now: tradingstandards.uk/practitioners/…

Great to welcome @mimsdavies MP to Heathcote Express & Post Office in East Grinstead for a valuable discussion on tackling illicit trade, the cost of trading &business rates ACS are conducting store visits with MPs in their constituencies, let us know if you want to get involved

🛑It will take you 30 seconds to drop a used vape at a recycling point. When vapes get crushed in general waste or mixed recycling, the batteries can spark. That spark becomes a fire. Sometimes in the truck. Sometimes at the depot. Follow the link below to find your nearest vape recycling point. It could be at a supermarket, vape shop or council site.👇 recycleyourelectricals.org.uk/how-to-recycle… gov.uk/guidance/my-sa… #SmallHabitsBigDifference #SafeVapeDisposal #DontBinThatVape! #BatteryFires

🛑Setting up new tech over the weekend? ✅Make your smart product more secure – Always change the default password when prompted. View all of our resources to raise awareness of safety issues associated with consumer products that can connect to the internet or a network.👇 gov.uk/guidance/my-sa… #ShopSmartShopSafely #IoT #CyberSecurity

🔋🚲🛴E-bike and e-scooter safety matters. Only buy safe e-bikes from reputable sellers, replace parts with products recommended by the manufacturer, and seek professional help when converting or repairing an e-bike. 👀Watch our YouTube clip here: 👉youtu.be/rYrtP5yfdo0 ✅Check out the official guidance here:👇 gov.uk/guidance/buy-s… #BuySafe

Monday 20 April - Updated: Saffron Pastries recalls various Saffron Pastries products because of potential rodent contamination #FoodAlert food.gov.uk/news-alerts/al…

Falling for a scam doesn’t just impact you financially but also emotionally. Don’t feel embarrassed to report it, @CitizensAdvice is here for you ➡ rdguk.info/M9sZU #ScamAware

Looking for a trustworthy trader to do some work at your home? 🏠 - Get written quotes from at least 3 different traders - Ask for references & check recent work - Use approved schemes like @TrustMarkUK or Which? Trusted Traders Stay #ScamAware ➡ rdguk.info/w9MMy

A trader at your door pushing urgent repairs? It could be a scam if they: - Rush you - Refuse a written quote - Demand cash upfront A legitimate trader gives written quotes & takes payment after work. Take your time & do your research. #ScamAware

⚠️Situational vulnerability comes from life challenges like job loss, divorce, or mental health ⚠️Marketplace vulnerability arises with tough or unfamiliar choices, like switching providers 🚨Both increase the risk of scams and fraud More: tinyurl.com/coercecontrol #NoBlameNoShame

Today is World Romance Scams Prevention Day Criminals use AI to create fake profiles, photos and videos. Don’t trust everything you see online. Hear the real voices of victims and learn how to stay safe: actionfraud.police.uk/romance-fraud. #RomanceFraud

Single-use vapes were banned on 1st June 2025. We are consulting on how Reading Borough Council intends to enforce the single use (disposable) vapes ban, using civil sanctions. Please see the guidance here, and let us know if you have any comments. rdguk.info/consultation_H…

☀️Going paddle boarding this summer? ⚠️Don’t take the risk, check your gear before you go. 🔗 gov.uk/product-safety… #StaySafeThisSummer #ProductRecalls

⚠️Here is our monthly recall roundup for July⚠️ Visit gov.uk/guidance/produ… for more information. #ProductRecalls #UkRecallsAndAlerts

Thursday 31 July - Update 3 – All sales of Orgenism Eggshell Membrane Capsules are recalled because of contamination with Salmonella linked to illness #FoodAlert food.gov.uk/news-alerts/al…

🚨 Spike in Doorstep Scams Across the UK 🚪 🛑 Report incidents to Citizens Advice: 0808 223 1133 🔒 Learn how to protect yourself: rdguk.info/xgfzj

⚠️ Stay Alert in your local area - report any concerns to the Police or Citizens Advice . In the case of an emergency please dial 999 rdguk.info/GXtNI

A Union Street shop that sold a vape to a 14-year-old during a @ReadingTSS test purchase has been ordered to pay nearly £2,000 in fines and costs Read more 📰 rdguk.info/qkD6m

🚨 Spike in Doorstep Scams Across the UK 🚪 🛑 Report incidents to Citizens Advice: 0808 223 1133 🔒 Learn how to protect yourself: rdguk.info/gpLQL