Crime Solicitors

Buckinghamshire Trading Standards has prosecuted a double glazing firm which inflated its prices to make offers and discounts look more competitive than they really were.

Zenith Staybrite Ltd admitted ten offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations, following an investigation by Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards, which operate a joint trading standards service.

The company admitted five offences involving engaging in an unfair commercial practice by quoting an initial inflated price, before applying a number of discounts to give the impression of a bargain.

The firm also pleaded guilty to five counts of engaging in an unfair commercial practice, by falsely stating that products would be available at a particular price for a limited time, to persuade customers to make an immediate decision.

In one case, a householder from Lee in southeast London was initially quoted £52,120 for a replacement set of uPVC windows, fascias and guttering – before a series of discounts were applied, giving a final price of £22,362.

In another case, a couple from Bookham in Surrey was given an initial price of £25,412 for new uPVC windows – which was then reduced to £16,000.

The firm admitted using similar tactics with eight other householders around the southeast – in Ashford and Woking, Surrey, Yateley, Hampshire, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex and West Drayton, Croydon, Coulsdon and Bromley.

Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards is seeking compensation from Zenith Staybrite for customers uncovered by the investigation, whom they say were victims of unfair and high-pressure practices.

Officers began their probe more than two years ago, after receiving complaints from Surrey residents about their dealings with the firm.

The firm – whose registered office is in Tib Lane, Manchester – entered guilty pleas through its legal representative at Guildford Crown Court in July and will be sentenced on Friday, 7 October.

The court found six other defendants – directors Gary Burton and Philip Lamb and sales agents Nicholas Petrou, James McMenemy, Enso Ghisoni and Michael Brodie – not guilty of unfair trading charges, after no evidence was offered against them.

The court was told that signed undertakings had been received from the six not to use unfair trading practices – any breach of the undertakings could lead to legal action.
Surrey County Council’s Cabinet Member for Localities and Community Wellbeing, Richard Walsh, said:

“This was a major investigation over two years into high-pressure sales tactics, which drove customers to make on-the-spot purchases they might not otherwise have made – and we hope the outcome will serve as a warning to firms across the country tempted to resort to such practices.

“Our advice to consumers is always to be wary of deals and discounts which seem too good to be true and hard-sell tactics geared towards rushing them
into signing on the dotted line.”

Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors

Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors can advise at any stage of a charge involving public protection offences, including misrepresentation, unfair trading offences, selling counterfeit goods, selling illicit alcohol or tobacco products, weights and measures issues, mislabelling offences, food hygiene breaches, selling restricted items to minors and breaches of health and safety regulations.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and in most major cities – and Duncan Lewis can advise companies and sole traders on public protection offences at the start of an investigation and before charges are brought.

For expert legal advice on public protection offences, call Duncan Lewis criminal solicitors on 0333 772 0409.