Victims of international postal scam to have money returned

The Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service will be returning thousands of pounds to residents from across the region who were defrauded in an international lottery scam. The … Continue reading →

Trading Standards repeats its warning about loan sharks to Radio Devon

“They call them loan sharks for a reason – they circle when you’re in trouble,” was the warning from a Heart of the South West Trading Standards manager on BBC … Continue reading →

Trading Standards warn of loan sharks as households borrow to meet rising costs

More than a quarter of people are resorting to using credit cards to buy food, and a fifth have borrowed money in order to pay for rising prices, it’s reported. … Continue reading →

Trading Standards issue warning to look out for scammers

Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service is warning residents to look out for scams that appear to offer financial support to help households with their energy bills. Scammers … Continue reading →

Farmer fined for side-stepping rules to prevent Bovine TB spread

A Somerset farmer who moved cattle without first testing them for TB, a legal requirement to safeguard other herds from infection, has been ordered to pay over £5,000. On Wednesday … Continue reading →

Illegal tobacco seller closed

A store in Tiverton has been closed for up to three months for selling illegal tobacco. The closure order, for the retailer ‘Smoke’ in Bampton Street, was granted by North … Continue reading →

Trading Standards seizes large amounts of illicit tobacco

Trading Standards seized illegal tobacco estimated to be worth more than £200,000 in raids in Devon and Somerset on Friday. The raids were conducted by officers from the Heart of … Continue reading →

Trading Standards to ‘test’ more petrol pumps for accuracy this summer

Trading Standards will increase the number of routine petrol forecourt checks across Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay this summer. Usually around a dozen forecourts a year are tested – this … Continue reading →

Trading Standards’ warning as rogue builder complaints hit two a day

Homeowners across Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay are being warned by Trading Standards to be alert following concerns that increasing numbers of people are being duped by rogue builders. In … Continue reading →

Poultry owners reminded to take ‘measures’ to reduce risk of spreading bird flu

The Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service is reminding all keepers of poultry that they are legally required to take measures to reduce the risk of bird flu … Continue reading →