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Consumer news


Traders reminded to ‘ask for ID’ after another shop owner is fined for selling vapes

The owner of a vapes shop has been ordered to pay fines and costs of £3,550 after he admitted selling vapes to a customer under the age of 18. It’s … Continue reading

Thousands of pounds worth of illicit tobacco seized in Exmouth

Illegal tobacco products and vapes worth more than £10,000 were discovered by detection dogs and seized by Trading Standards officers during an operation in Exmouth, East Devon, last week. It … Continue reading

Spray foam insulation removal scam warning

Trading Standards is warning consumers to be wary of cold callers pressuring them to pay to have spray foam insulation removed – insulation that in many cases was only installed … Continue reading

Buying beach products this summer? Look at the label…

The summer holidays are here and Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service is offering some helpful reminders when you are buying products to help you and your family … Continue reading

Most shops ‘refuse’ to sell vapes to children

An operation by Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service (HotSW TS) and supported by Devon and Cornwall Police has found that the majority of Plymouth businesses recently visited … Continue reading

Illegal tobacco products and vapes seized

Trading Standards Officers seized illegal tobacco products and vapes with an estimated value of over £166,000 during a joint operation with police earlier this month. Officers from Heart of the … Continue reading

Trading Standards safety message for e-bike or e-scooter owners or buyers

Trading Standards is advising consumers and businesses to ensure that e-scooters and Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycles (e-bikes) are safe and compliant with the correct safety regulations before they are purchased, … Continue reading

Trading Standards gives advice on how to ensure toys are safe this Christmas

To help ensure that the toys you are buying this Christmas are safe Trading Standards has released two short videos. The videos, about toy safety and buying electrical goods, feature … Continue reading

‘Crime doesn’t pay’; Rogue builder told to pay back over £200,000

Our Service prosecuted a rogue builder earlier this year, and now that builder could be paying out for ‘the rest of his life’. Samuel Harvey, of Greenbank Road, Barnstaple, was … Continue reading

Black Friday warning: if it’s too good to be true, it probably is

Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service is warning consumers to be wary of scams when shopping online this Black Friday.  New research shows more than one in four … Continue reading


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