Descriptions relating to the goods and services provided by a company are governed by Trading Standards rules and relate to the levels of accuracy and factual nature of statements made.
Where a company provides information about the items it sells, such representations must be unambiguous and true.
These provisions related to all statements made in support of products and services whether they are stated in a conversation, in an advertisement or presented as a written document to a prospective customer.
In the latter case, information provided to a person (such as an agent) with whom customers are likely to be in contact with should also be considered.
Statements about Goods and Services
The following are a list of areas where descriptions relating to specific features of a company’s products or services could be given.
All are regulated by Trading Standards rules that require that both accurate details are providing when describing each attribute.
- The process of producing the product or service
- The time and location where the items were assembled, created or modified
- Any awards which have been received
- The composition of the items and the materials used where relevant
- The volume, height, width and density
In reviewing selling material produced to promote a company’s products and services, caution should be exercised in what is stated about them.
Selling staff need to be well versed on the features of what they will be asked to talk about and adequate training might prevent customers seeking retribution after having bought an item which is markedly different from the one which was described.
