Trading standards issues warning about tooth whitening

Posted by Now Cardiff on Sep 17, 2012

Cardiff Council’s Trading Standards is advising potential customers not to have their teeth whitened unless a dentist has assessed whether such treatment is right for them. Also, while tooth whitening can improve the appearance of natural teeth, it is important that people are fully aware of what to expect and how it can be conducted safely.

The popularity of teeth-whitening has increased tenfold in the past five years and at least 100,000 people have some form of treatment every year. However, there is particular concern over the dangers relating to the supply of illegal tooth whitening products both for use at home and the use of such products by people who are not registered with the General Dental Council.

Tooth whitening products contain bleach and should be used with caution. It is illegal, for example, to supply products which contain more than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. Cardiff Trading Standards has successfully prosecuted one company for selling a home tooth whitening kit containing over 10% hydrogen peroxide and there have been reported cases of tooth whitening kits containing 30% hydrogen peroxide.

Other “bleaching” products such as sodium perborate and chlorine dioxide are being used by some lay people. These products are unsafe, often very acidic and their use is strongly discouraged.

Using too much bleach poses a real threat of permanent damage to a person’s health; tooth enamel may be damaged, and people can suffer prolonged and increased tooth sensitivity. Indeed, it’s possible to damage the nerve enough to require root canal therapy. Also, since the bleaching trays are not custom-fitted, the uneven distribution of bleach may cause spotting.

Furthermore, despite the widespread availability of products, most consumers are unaware that tooth whitening may only lawfully be provided by those who are registered dental professionals; specifically dentists, or dental hygienists or dental therapists working to a dentist’s prescription.

Provision by lay people is unlikely to be done in the controlled surroundings of a dental surgery, sometimes being done in beauty “parlours”, open areas in shopping centres or even in peoples own homes.

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Trading standards warn of religious email scam

Posted by Now Cardiff on Sep 3, 2012

Cardiff Trading Standards team is warning residents in the capital about a variation on the Nigerian Scam e-mail currently in circulation in the area.

The writer claims to have inherited a large sum of money from her deceased husband and is willing to donate £5 million to worthwhile causes such as orphanages and the less privileged.

The email, written in a religious tone, goes on to say that the recipient is able to keep 30% of any money sent to them on the proviso that 70% is used for ‘God’s work’. They are also requested to ‘keep everything about this transaction very private and secret because there are so many people that are searching a way to claims My Husband fund’ (sic). All that is required is that the recipient sends his or her bank account information so that the funds can be deposited.

This scam differs from the classic Nigerian email/letter only in the religious terminology used; that is, the recipient is offered a large amount of money for doing virtually nothing, but providing information on a bank account, which will be quickly cleaned out by the fraudster.

Councillor Ashley Govier, Cardiff Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “These emails can appear very plausible and promise wonderful things but it is vital that anyone who receives one does not respond in any way. This is particularly important for many of our more vulnerable residents who might be taken in by the writer apparently already knowing some information about them.”

“If you are unsure as to whether what is being offered is genuine or not, talk to a family member, or a friend or seek advice by calling Citizens Advice Consumer Line to get another opinion. Remember, the whole nature of a scam is to separate you from your money or obtain your personal or financial details.”

Cardiff’s Trading Standards team is advising resident that if they have any doubts whatsoever do not:

• disclose your personal or financial details, even if it appears the writer already has them;
• express an interest, as you may be identified as a potential target for other future scams;
• trust testimonials from people who claim to have benefitted from the offer;
• be intimidated into making a quick decision;

Always act with caution and if you have any suspicions don’t be afraid to delete the email…  And remember, if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!

BUMBO® BABY SEAT SAFETY ALERT

Posted by Now Cardiff on Aug 19, 2012

Cardiff Council Trading Standards is issuing an urgent safety alert to anyone using a Bumbo® Baby Seat following at least 50 reported incidents in the United States where infants have fallen out of the seats and fractured their skulls.

The company which makes the seats, Baby International Trust, is currently recalling four million seats in the US but not in the UK. Instead, UK consumers are being offered free safety harnesses.

Consumers are being advised that they should immediately stop using the product until they order and install a free repair kit. The kit includes: a restraint belt with a warning label, installation instructions, safe use instructions and a new warning sticker.

The belt should always be used when a child is placed in the seat. Even with the belt, the seat should never be used on any raised surface. Consumers should also immediately stop using Bumbo® seat covers that interfere with the installation and use of the belt.

 

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Telephone scam warning

Posted by Now Cardiff on May 1, 2012

Cardiff Council’s Trading Standards team is warning local consumers to avoid being taken in by the latest telephone scam that could be costly and upsetting.

The scam involves consumers getting a call from someone claiming to want to help them stop unwanted calls by paying a three-year subscription of £47.76 to a bogus ‘telephone preference service.’

Cardiff Council’s head of Regulatory and Supporting Services, Dave Holland, said: “This is a calculated and heartless scam to obtain financial information, and could be especially distressing for older people. The scam has nothing to do with the official Telephone Preference Service (TPS) which is free of charge for consumers and registers your number to stop unsolicited calls.”

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Rogue traders targeted in day of action

Posted by Now Cardiff on Apr 19, 2012

Council officers from Cardiff and the Vale joined forces with South Wales Police and a range of other agencies on Tuesday to tackle rogue traders in the west of Cardiff and Penarth.

Operation Rogue Trader focused on reassuring the community, reducing crime and taking action against unscrupulous traders in what agencies have hailed a “hugely successful” day of events.

The exercise, which started at the crack of dawn and was led by Cardiff Trading Standards and South Wales Police, included high visibility patrols and targeted stop-check searches of people and vehicles believed to be involved in door-stop selling and rogue trader activity.

Shoppers visiting the Leckwith Retail Park were also provided with guidance and advice on crime prevention and cold calling by the local Neighbourhood Policing Team and Council officials.

As a result of the operation the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) interviewed eight people and six are under caution pending further enquiries.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) booked 17 vehicles for not having vehicle excise licenses.

Trading Standards found three overloaded vehicles and imposed immediate bans on each preventing them from returning to the highway until their loads had been sufficiently reduced. The drivers were also reported for prosecution. Additionally, five trading companies were questioned and served notices for not correctly complying with regulations protecting customers’ cancellation rights.

HM Revenue and Customs stop checked 22 vehicles and found one vehicle using red diesel. This was seized by officers and later returned for payment of purchase.

While the Environment Agency stop checked 15 vehicles and two were reported for waste carrier licence offences; waste management officers from Cardiff Council stopped 11 vehicles and served notices for a variety of infringements relating to the loads they were transporting.

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