Shock for electrical contractor as magistrates impose £2,000 fine

Paul Davies of PMD Electrical Services and Contracting has been fined a total of £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £848.76 after pleading guilty at Hereford Magistrates Court on Friday, June 20 2008 to falsely claiming to belong to trade associations.

Davies, 28, of The Pastures, Lower Bullingham, Hereford, admitted three charges under the Trade Description Act 1968 for falsely claiming to be a member of the following associations, the ‘CAI’ Confederation of Aerial Industries, the ‘NICEIC’ National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting and the ‘ECA’ Electrical Contractors Association, by using their logos either on his van or his website:

Geoff Hardy, representing Herefordshire Council, told magistrates that to be a member of such organisations as the CAI, NICEIC and ECA, work has to be of a certain standard and subscriptions have to be paid.

Herefordshire Council’s regulatory services manager Mike Pigrem said: “Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards Service will not tolerate such flagrant breaches of Consumer Protection law and will always take the appropriate enforcement action.

“Not only do the public place their trust in such companies who claim membership and clearly expect this to be honoured, but also reputable businesses that do have membership are being unfairly disadvantaged.

“The magistrates considered this to be a serious matter and the resultant fine should send out a clear message that making false claims such as these will not be condoned,” he added.