PAVEL L PHOTO AND VIDEO / SHUTTERSTOCK News EU set to open access to car manufacturer repair data Restricted access to repair data from car manufacturers looks likely soon to be a thing of the past, giving consumers choice about where they get their vehicle repaired for the first time. The change, scheduled to come into force through upcoming EU legislation, will benefit independent garages, ensuring they can access information to repair any car including the newest models and security feature repair details. The expansion of available information will mean that certified independents can now compete on a level playing field with franchised garages. The Independent Garage Association (IGA) has been campaigning for this legislation in Brussels for many years. IGA director Stuart James said: This is the largest change to the current structure of the UK motor industry and professionally run, independent garages will flourish. Through RMISC the Retail Motor Industry Federations UKASaccredited subsidiary business garages can gain certification against the ISO standard, which will then allow them to access repair information from any manufacturer. According to Tim Milsom, CTSIs lead officer for the motor trade, the change will enable consumers actually to choose where they get their vehicle repaired. It opens up the option to move away from the franchise sector if they so wish. Milsom notes that independent garages often offer cheaper rates, which will provide a benefit for consumers. For those who live far from their original car dealer or a franchised garage, having the ability to access their local garage for full repairs will also be more convenient. He believes the upcoming change should also improve consumer safety, ensuring that independent certified garages can undertake all repairs safely and reliably, using a full breakdown of repair information. Age UK and E.ON under investigation Claims that Age UK has been promoting unfavourable energy deals with supplier E.ON are being investigated by energy industry and charity watchdogs. The Charity Commission confirmed it has contacted Age UK regarding the charitys partnership with E.ON and that it is also liaising closely with Ofgem and its enquiries into E.ON. An investigation by The Sun in early February claimed that the tariff offered by Age UK a two-year fixed rate promotional tariff with E.ON was more expensive than the suppliers cheapest tariffs by around 245 in 2015. The newspaper claimed that, in return, the charity had received around 6m from the energy supplier. In a joint statement, Age UK and E.ON announced that both organisations retain confidence in the tariff offered to customers. However, the branded offer is temporarily no longer on offer due to continued speculation regarding the partnership. Rogue trader given suspended prison sentence CLAUDIO DIVIZIA / SHUTTERSTOCK A rogue trader who conned customers out of thousands of pounds by overcharging them for his services has been given a six-month suspended prison sentence for breaching the terms of an enforcement order. The sentence was handed to Mohammed Shamrez, director of Express Plumbing which also traded under the name London Emergency Plumbers by Luton County Court. Shamrez, 30, of Bedford, was also ordered to pay Bedford Borough Councils costs of 40,643 within 28 days. He was first issued with the enforcement order in October 2013, following an investigation by Bedford Trading Standards. The court heard that Shamrez continually breached consumer protection legislation, including: misleading consumers about the price of his services and how he would be paid; overcharging for his services; overstating the time taken to do jobs; taking payments from consumers without authorisation; and lying about his position in the company to avoid complaints. The court heard how trading standards officers had received dozens of complaints, starting just weeks after the enforcement order was granted. These continued up until 8 February this year, when he ceased operating his plumbing business and closed down his website. Her Honour Judge Lindsay Davies said she was satisfied Shamrez had acted deliberately throughout, was highly culpable and had caused financial detriment as well as anxiety and stress to consumers in the bracket of 20,000 to 100,000. She further stated that he had failed to demonstrate remorse and acceptance of his actions was belated. He must now display a warning to prospective customers on each page of any websites he uses for any businesses he is involved with, now or in the future. The warning informs potential customers that Shamrez is subject to the terms of an enforcement order. Should Mr Shamrez be found to be in breach of the order again, he will receive a six-month custodial sentence, as well any additional time imposed for the further breach. Laser pens danger shines a light on role of trading standards The dangers associated with laser pens put trading standards role as public protector under the spotlight in parliament last month, after youths shone a laser into the cockpit of a plane, forcing it to land. MP for Hertsmere Oliver Dowden asked what the government was doing to restrict access to laser pens in the UK. Broxtowe MP Anna Soubry replied, saying that she had asked for an urgent update from trading standards on its recent market surveillance activities. She said: I am aware that Leicester Trading Standards recently seized 1,500 unsafe laser pens at point of entry, and the importer agreed to destroy them. In addition RAPEX the European electronic platform for the notifying and removal of dangerous consumer products statistics show 98 different types of laser pointers were removed from the EU market and, of these, nine different products were notified by UK market surveillance authorities.