A RETIRED couple committed to gym courses without an opt-out clause, and a young couple bought cover to protect their furniture, but the agreement was not worth the paper it was written on. These are just two of the cases Alton Citizens Advice Bureau is currently dealing with. Ill health has prevented the senior keep-fitters from continuing with their 24 months of gym courses, but the company has sold their direct debit on to a finance company and they are finding it difficult to get out of the agreement. And the young couple have found that while the company they purchased their sofa from had agreed to come and remove any staining, they had to know exactly what substance had caused the stain and it then had to fall into a slender category of substances. A new law came into force on May 28, under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Alton CAB manager Dominic Carney said it is hoped that this law will provide more protection to consumers across a range of products and services. Mr Carney said: "Regulations are one thing, compliance is another. There is already a raft of laws to support the consumer but we are still seeing a rise in the number and ingenuity of scams. "In the past few years CAB has had to bring the government's attention to a range of scams and bad practice, costing the public £3.5 billion a year." He gives, as an example, the increasing number of people who have been conned into parting with money by bogus will writers. Genuine, trained will writers will be able to provide verifiable credentials and will not cold call by phone or by door knocking. Mr Carney also believes that postal, phone and internet scams are on the rise. He asks people to look out for: l Letters with a mock cheque saying you have won a big prize and asking you to send a fee so it can be processed l Phone calls congratulating you on your winnings and milking you for more and more fees l Email scams asking you to confirm your account details. "If something looks too good to be true, it probably is," warns the CAB manager, adding: "Remember you can't win a prize if you didn't enter a competition, and you can't win the lottery if you didn't buy a ticket. "Never pay money up front – if you really have won something any fees can be deducted from your winnings. We would urge people to report scams. If you are not sure who to complain to, we are more than willing to assist you." Mr Carney said another big problem has been the use of credit agreements for the supply of goods or services. "One CAB client took advantage of a special offer for a cheap gym membership fee in July. He filled in a direct debit and was told he would not be charged until he used the gym. "He did not use the gym, as he could not find work to pay for the membership. In September he received a letter saying he had fallen into arrears and he needed to pay the full balance of £576. "Times are tight right now, and this is when even more scamsters crawl out of the woodwork. If you have a problem or suspect that someone is trying to rip you off, just call in and have a chat with one of our advisers or give us a call." Alton CAB in Cross and Pillory Lane is open Monday to Thursday 10am to 4pm. Drop in or call 01420 84399.
