summer 2017 round-uP pricing practices what you need to know The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has issued new guidance on pricing practices for businesses that sell products or services to people in the uK. RouNd-uP l online sales information l Volume offers l Free items l Additional charges The Guidance for Traders on Pricing Practices (the Guidance) replaces the 2010 BIS Pricing Practices Guide. Its publication has been prompted by a recent series of consumer complaints about misleading practices, as well as a super-complaint from the consumer association Which? Traders should be reviewing their pricing practices for compliance with these new guidelines. The Guidance does not have legal force, but it illustrates the likely approach that Trading Standards and other authorities will take when enforcing consumer protection laws most notably, the Consumer Protection from unfair Trading Regulations 2008. This underlying legislation has not changed, but the revised Guidance includes several new and expanded areas of information to help traders comply with the various laws. The Guidance has been published on the CTSI website Business Companion, in the In-depth Guide Price marking of goods for retail sale. Credit: CTSI iStock.com / georgeclerk Pricing practices must not be unfair or likely to deceive consumers. However, the Guidance moves away from setting down hard-and-fast rules, and towards traders considering the probable effect of a pricing practice on consumers and evaluating whether they would find it misleading. Key areas of the Guidance include: l Pricing promotions l Recommended retail prices l Comparisons with competitors prices Helping car dealers to get it right breached within the first 30 days of a purchase, they have a number of rights: l They can reject the car and get a full refund and all associated costs l Any refund must be given without delay and, in any event, within 14 days of a trader agreeing that the consumer is entitled to one. Alternatively, the customer can request a free repair or replacement l Traders have only one opportunity to repair or replace the goods. If a further fault occurs which is considered to be a failure to repair the consumer has the right to reject the car, or request a reduction in price Motor vehicle retailers have specific legal obligations when it comes to repairs and refunds, so the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has published a new guide to help dealers get it right. There are some key points traders should be aware of; customers have core rights and if these are breached they have the right to reject goods in appropriate circumstances. RouNd-uP After 30 days, the consumer loses the right to reject the vehicle, but can still request a repair or replacement. If you are unable to do this after one attempt, the customer can: l Keep the car and receive a refund, less an appropriate amount l Reject the car and receive a refund, less an amount for use (this does not include depreciation) A consumer cannot make a claim if: l The defect was brought to their attention The vehicle they purchase must be of before the sale satisfactory quality including: l They examined the car before sale and the fault should have been l Free from minor defects obvious for more in-depth l Safe l They simply change their guidance on the sale of l durable mind vehicles, see the Business l The fault is due to wear Companion website. It must also be fit for and tear purpose, including for a particular use that has been made known to you. For example, it must be possible to fit a roof rack if the customer has made you aware that this is what they require of the vehicle. Vehicles must also: match any description given, whether by advertisement, online or verbally; and match any model that the customer examined or saw, unless you tell them otherwise. A trader should also ensure they are legally entitled to sell the vehicle, and that it has no outstanding finance on it. The new CTSI guidance aims to help motor traders meet their legal obligations If any of the customers core rights are Credit: Carrie Morris Images: iStock.com /Wavebreakmedia for further information, please contact your local trading Standards Service