Page 32 - feb2024

February 2024 February 2024

DORSET TRADING STANDARDS PORCHESTER CENTRE

Dorset County Council Trading Standards Service check and Our journey across central London
approve businesses so you don’t have to. was uneventful enough but as we
For more information visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk or pulled up outside we realised that
call 08454 040506. parking could be a little tricky. “Just
To report or seek advice about problems you have drive around the building and I will
experienced when dealing with a trader call 08454 040506. meet you at the back and you can
park behind my car” said Mo
Youssef, the General Manager at
Reporting to Trading Standards the Porchester Centre.
If you think a business has broken the law or has acted unfairly, you can report What kind people we have met on
them to Trading Standards. Call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 our grand swimming tour and Mo
223 1133. was no exception. We eventually
entered the building through the back but from the front it had a very grand
There are two benefits in reporting this way:
facade with Portland stone pillars, Cornish granite and the appearance of
th
Your call will be answered by a trained Citizens Advice helpline advisor. They take council chambers from the early 20 .century. I chatted a while with the friendly
details and give you practical and impartial advice on how to resolve your reception lady in the very grand teak clad foyer and listened to some of the
consumer problem. They will tell you the law which applies to your situation and banter between the staff. It soon became obvious that this must be a nice place
will provide letter templates if needed. They will then pass information about your to work as everyone seemed to get on so well.
complaint to Trading Standards.
The Porchester Centre was built was built 1923-1925 and designed by local
Trading Standards will use the information you have provided to decide if to architect Herbert Shepherd. This grade II listed building has had a £1.2 million
investigate unfair trading and illegal business activity. Often business advice is all pound refurbishment with the main pool retaining most of the original features
that’s needed. However, Trading Standards can take businesses to court when including the splendid large viewing gallery and roof windows.
there have been major breaches and it’s in the public interest to do so. The centre has two pools with the larger one measuring 30 metres by 11 metres
Here are just some examples of when you should report a business to Trading and the smaller pool 23 metres by 10 metres. The small pool had recently been re-
Standards: profiled with new glass tiles. Both pools are kept at a comfortable 27C
 unsafe or dangerous Chizedek Ettienne (36) soon appeared and was to be my guide for most of the
g o o d s , i n c l u d i n g afternoon. He had been at the centre for nine months and had recently been
electrical goods and made a duty manager. Chizedek’s
food past its use-by broad smile said it all. “I love this
date building. Everything is new, the staff are
 fake goods so kind and we are a good team”. He
 misdescribed goods had been born to a large family in
Trinidad and whilst he was growing up,
 you were pressurised to sang with his five brothers in a gospel
buy something choir. He came to this country when he
 You paid for something that you didn’t receive, and you can’t contact the was 22, loved London and gained his UK
seller citizenship. Last month he was invited to
 A business seller has tried to stop you using your legal rights, such as saying take part in X Factor. “I sang Circle of
you can’t return faulty goods Life, I didn’t get anywhere but I loved it

32 45