When Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service received a report that an elderly woman was still paying £130 in rent every year for a 20 year old TV – and had never been offered an upgrade or a reduction in the rental cost, they acted.
Trading Standards were contacted by the elderly person’s carer after she discovered an annual £130 rental bill for her TV, which was clearly at least 20 years old.
Enquiries revealed that the elderly consumer had never been offered an upgrade or a reduction in the rental cost over all that time.
Trading Standards Officers were able to get the antiquated TV replaced with a widescreen 20 inch TV with a remote control and the rent reduced to £72 per year.
However Officers are advising consumer that whilst they consider it good practice for a rental company to offer upgrades, companies are not obliged to offer them if there is nothing in the rental agreement to make this happen.
Mark Ryder, Head of Warwickshire Trading Standards said:
“Renting electrical goods was more popular twenty years ago than it is today, but to think that this consumer has paid £2600 for this television over this period, without ever being offered an upgrade is shocking.
We believe that this is not an isolated incident and would strongly advise relatives and carers of elderly or vulnerable consumers to make them aware of this case.”
Anyone requiring consumer advice can contact Consumer Direct West Midlands on 08454 04 05 06 or visit our website:
www.warwickshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards |