2007
People should be cautious when selling personal items of value such as rings, antique furniture, garden statues, sculptures, art, and specialist memorabilia.
23rd October 2007
Whilst there is legislation in place to protect consumers when they are buying goods & services, you don't have the same protections as a seller. If a trader buys your family heirlooms for an agreed price, then sells them on at a much higher price, you may have little or no opportunity for redress under the law.
Sam Tappenden Consumer Direct South East Manager said:
'We are aware that this can be extremely frustrating for people who find that having sold their personal item to a trader for an agreed price, they then discover that it's being sold on at a much higher price. Although this might seem unfair it is not necessarily unlawful. A trader can offer to buy a product for any price and sell the same product at whatever asking price they wish.'
Consumer Direct South East advises anybody in the market selling their valuable items to ensure that they get at least three valuations (if necessary more) from known, reputable valuers.
Check if the valuers are part of an association. If that is the case, there may opportunities for recourse or mediation through the association after the sale or valuation.
Ask for any valuations in writing and don't rely on verbal estimates.
For any advice on consumer issues, people can contact Consumer Direct South East on 08454 04 05 06.
-ends-
MEDIA enquiries:
Jamie Sheppard Tel: 01622 626580
Email: james.sheppard@consumerdirect-southeast.gov.uk
NOTES
1. Consumer Direct is a telephone and online consumer advice service funded by government and managed by the Office of Fair Trading. It operates in partnership with Local Authority Trading Standards Services to offer consumers clear, practical and impartial advice and information.
2. Consumer Direct has around 350 trained advisers in 11 contact centres across England, Wales and Scotland.
3. The information and advice helpline is available on a single national telephone number - 08454 04 05 06 from 0800 – 1830 Monday to Friday, and 0900 – 1300 Saturday, excluding bank holidays and public holidays.
4. A Welsh-speaking Consumer Direct service is available on 08454 04 05 05. Minicom users should call 08451 28 13 84.
5. Calls to the Consumer Direct 0845 numbers are charged at no more than four pence per minute from a BT landline. Call charges from other landline providers or mobile phones may vary. Please check the rate with your phone service provider.
6. Northern Ireland has its own service called Consumer Line (available on 08456 00 62 62) which is similar to Consumer Direct. Visit the ConsumerLine website.
Consumer Direct South East funded by the Office of Fair Trading, working in partnership with Hampshire Trading Standards.
