A project to give consumers more peace of mind while spending their money in Wiltshire is celebrating its sixth birthday.
Buy With Confidence is backed by Trading Standards offices across the country. It recognises traders who display a commitment to fair customer service.
All Buy With Confidence businesses are vetted and approved by Trading Standards to ensure that they operate legally, honestly and fairly. That includes a commitment never to cold-call customers.
Customers can search for traders they can trust on the Buy With Confidence website which was launched in Wiltshire in April 2012.
Jerry Wickham Wiltshire Council cabinet member for public protection said, ‘Buy With Confidence is a valuable initiative which brings significant commercial benefits. Wiltshire Council is delighted to support it.”
Ellen Rose, the director of Westbury-based Rose’s Gardening & Fencing Services, was the first business in the county to sign up for Buy With Confidence.
She said, “The official status from Trading Standards means so much. It gives people who are looking for a good service at a fair price the confidence that they are going to get a good job at a good price.
“That is especially important in a sector like ours, where we visit people to look after their gardens. It is open to unfair and unregulated traders and many people – especially the more vulnerable like the elderly – are rightly nervous of handing over money, not knowing whether they will get what they paid for.
“My advice to any trader would be to apply for the Buy With Confidence mark. It will be great for your business and great for your customers.”
Neil Brown, the owner of Village Green garage in Holt said,“I signed up with Buy With Confidence a year ago and it’s been really positive.
“It gives people that peace of mind that they are being treated fairly, and it means that we can sell cars with confidence.”
For more details on the scheme and how to apply go to https://www.buywith confidence.gov.uk
