Trading standards

We are here to protect the interests of Wokingham consumers and businesses and maintain a fair and safe trading environment within the Borough. Our Trading Standards team form part of our Place and Neighbourhoods Services. View our Trading Standards Service Plan 2007 - 2010 below. 

Urgent news alerts

See our news page for details.

Consumer rights

To find out more about your consumer rights go to the Consumer Direct website. 

Doorstep sellers and cold callers

Doorstep sellers and cold callers are common place these days and will try to sell you anything from driveways, to alarm systems, paving, mobility products to timeshare, etc.  Our advice is to be cautious when buying anything from doorstep sellers or cold callers on the telephone.  The most effective way to prevent being ripped off by doorstep sellers is to not deal with them at all and just say no.  Often if the offer seems too good to be true it probably is. 

Read our leaflet about Doorstep Cowboys below. 

If you are a householder or business and you would like further advice on this subject, please contact us on 0118 9746400 for a 'Safe and Sound' booklet or to talk to an officer.  Advice can also be found at the Buy with Confidence website.

Request an anti doorstep seller sticker

If you would like a sticker to place on your door asking doorstep sellers not to call, with the message 'We do not buy or sell at this door', please contact us on 0118 974 6400.

Businesses

For advice and guidance on trading laws please go to the Trading Standards Central website. 

New regulations came into force on 1 October 2008 concerning doorstep selling.  The Cancellation of Contracts Made in a Consumer’s Home or Place of Work etc Regulations 2008 are aimed at traders who enter into a contract with a consumer at their home or workplace. They also cover contracts made at another individual’s home or on an excursion organised by the trader away from their business premises.  For further information go to the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills website.

For advice and business guidance on under age sales and for a retailers information pack go to the No ID, No Sale website.

Read the Age Restricted Sales newsletter, Summer 2009, below.

Registration and Licensing

For information on storing and selling explosives and fireworks and whether you need to obtain a registration or licence please go to the explosives and fireworks page.

For information on the requirements for selling poisons please go to the poisons page.

Animal Health and Welfare

For advice and guidance on animal diseases and welfare issues go to the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs website.

For more specific enquiries please use the links below:

• Education - Ask Cedric

• Citizen's Advice Bureau

• Food Matters - Food Standards Agency

• Licensing

• PhonepayPlus - formally known as ICSTIS

• Environmental Health

• Building Control

• Product recalls page on the Trading Standards website

Contact us

For further information and guidance, please contact the Trading Standards duty officer on 0118 974 6400 or email: trading.standards@wokingham.gov.uk.