11 January 2000

PUBLIC WARNED ABOUT FIRST AID KITS FROM THE NETHERLANDS

Trading Standards Service today issued a warning about unsolicited ‘first aid kits’ with a Netherlands postmark which are dropping though the letter boxes of an unsuspecting public across the Province.

The kits, which consist of a selection of bandages, are accompanied by an invoice for £23.70. They originate from a company called Royal Consulting which claims that the proceeds from the kits will help to support worthy humanitarian organisations. Failure or delay in paying for the kits then leads to unpleasant threats of interest being charged.

Mark Curry from Trading Standards Service (TSS) said anyone who receives kits, and more particularly, invoices through the post, should not feel threatened. "You have the law on your side because it is a criminal offence for the sender to demand payment for goods which he or she knows have not been ordered.

"Anyone who receives goods which have not been ordered has two options:

"Firstly, write to the sender giving your name and address and inform them that you did not order the goods. In this case, he has 30 days to collect them before they become yours.

"Otherwise, you can put them in a safe place. Then, if the sender has not collected them within the next six months, they become your property."

Mr Curry said that TSS has asked the Dutch authorities to take action to stem the flow of these kits and invoices.

 

NOTE TO EDITORS

Meanwhile, anyone who receives one of these first aid kits or simply wants more information about their rights as a consumer can contact Trading Standards Service on Telephone: 028 9025 3900, tss@detini.gov.uk or visit the TSS website at www.tssni.gov.uk.

Trading Standards Service is part of Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

Requests for interviews should be made to Anne Morrow, Press Office Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment on Telephone: 028 9052 9305.