Our Trading Standards team works to help promote a fair and safe trading environment across Gwynedd. We do this by supporting customers as well as businesses in an impartial way. Our role is to safeguard the interests of consumers and the county’s business community.
Contact us:
Cyngor Gwynedd's Trading Standards
More information
Contact us if you would like advice or have witnessed any criminal or dishonest trading practices including;
- rogue trading
- sale of dangerous goods
- car clocking
- fake goods
- sale of alcohol and tobacco to under 18’s
- livestock welfare issues
- miss-described goods
- out of date food
- loan-sharks
- scams and fraud
- advertising and description of goods or services
- safety of consumer goods
- estate agents
- credit and loans
- weights and measures equipment
- hallmarking and counterfeit goods
- animal health
- underage sales
- pricing
- licensing of fireworks storage and petrol stations.
Contact Details
Online enquiry: Trading standards
Report a concern: Trading standards
Phone: 01766 771 000
Address: Cyngor Gwynedd's Headquarters, Castle Street, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL55 1SF
All information we receive is recorded on our systems for analysis and where required an investigation will be carried out. For further free impartial advice, contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service (opens in new tab):
- Phone: 03454 04 05 06
In turn the Citizens Advice Consumer Service will inform the Trading Standards Unit of any complaint which requires further action from our service.
We support consumers within Gwynedd through:
- Face to face advice available for elderly or vulnerable people (by appointment only).
- home visits for the vulnerable (which can include help with writing letters and checking paper work (opens in new tab)
- educational materials, events, roadshows and outreach working
Contact us:
Avian influenza is a highly contagious viral disease. Guidance and information about services can be found on the Welsh Government website. More information (opens in new tab)
If you have any concerns about your birds please contact your vet for advice.
There are several things to consider before buying a pup, but be careful that you aren't being scammed by illegal puppy farms!
- Buying from Illegal puppy farmers and importers (often on the internet) means you are more likely to buy a sick puppy.
- Have you seen the puppy at home with its mother? This gives you the chance to see how the puppy behaves.
- If you suspect the conditions are not right, then do not buy the puppy.
- Are you buying from a Kennel Club Assured Breeder? These breeders must follow rules assuring the health of the puppies they sell.
- Imported puppies must be at least 15 weeks old. Younger and they are illegal and could be taken from you if reported.
- Be prepared to be put on a waiting list - a healthy puppy is well-worth waiting for. Be suspicious of a breeder selling several different breeds, unless you are sure of their credentials.
- Ask to see the relevant health test certificates for the puppy’s parents.
- Always go to a reliable and reputable breeder.
- Have you considered re-homing an older dog.
- Check out the Dogs Trust or your local animal rescue centre.
- Never buy a puppy from a pet shop, car park or service station
- Citizens Advice consumer service – GOV.UK – to provide first line consumer advice
- Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) (opens in new tab) – for farmed animal health and welfare and food labelling support
- Department of Health – public health, healthier food choices and tobacco control
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – for support on explosives (fireworks) storage and licensing
- North Wales Police (opens in new tab)– for work on crime reduction and assisting each other during operation
- North Wales Fire and Rescue (opens in new tab) – for petroleum and fire safety advice.
- Trading Standards (opens in new tab) - For further guidance and advice
- Trading Standards Wales (opens in new tab) - For further guidance and advice
How can you find a reputable trader?
Looking for a trader you can trust?
Buy With Confidence is one of the largest local authority assured trader schemes in Wales and England. Gwynedd Trading Standards have introduced Buy With Confidence to provide consumers with a choice of approved traders that will protect you as a consumer.
Further Information
- Buying with confidence website (opens in new tab)
- Phone - 01766 771 000
Be careful not to be fooled by the loan shark! For more advice, read the booklet below:
For advice, go to:
- Beat the Loan Shark (opens in new tab)
- phone - 03001 233 311
What are Counterfeit Goods?
Counterfeit goods are fake goods that are deliberately created to look like registered goods. The sale of counterfeit goods has become a national problem as more and more fake goods have become available. Counterfeit goods are also known as 'pirates', 'replicas' or 'copies'. Amongst the different types of counterfeit goods that are widely available are clothing, jewellery, electrical goods, perfume, car batteries and children's toys.
You might think you're getting a bargain, but you need to be cautious. Large companies don't give substantial discounts on items and you could be cheated into paying a large sum of money for a dangerous or inferior item.
Why should I avoid buying counterfeit goods? :
Breaking the law
If a company has registered the design / logo (Trade mark) of a product it is illegal to buy counterfeit goods that use that design/ logo without their permission. Buying counterfeit goods will afford the seller the funding to continue with their criminality.
Your safety
In the majority of cases fake goods are of poor quality and / or potentially dangerous, e.g.:
- Children's clothing - fake children's clothing will not have been tested in accordance with safety legislation – if at all.
- Sun glasses – may not protect your eyes from harmful rays
- Electrical Goods – May not have been tested in accordance with electrical safety legislation - if at all.
If buying counterfeit goods over the internet, you are at risk of releasing information about yourself or your bank details to offenders.
Complaints procedure
Counterfeit items are often sold at much lower prices than the genuine item and will inevitably be inferior quality to the genuine item. Sellers of counterfeit goods very rarely have a complaints procedure and are unlikely to offer any form of financial redress in the event of the goods being faulty or inferior.
Effect on the local economy
The buying and selling of counterfeit goods can affect legitimate businesses. There may be a knock on effect on the local economy e.g. shop / factory closures, redundancies.
Counterfeit and the law
People who reproduce goods using registered Trade Marks when not authorised to do so are likely to be committing a criminal offence under the Trade Marks Acts 1994 or The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
How can I protect myself?
- Check the URL when buying on-line, often there will be spelling mistakes in the URL and on the website
- Check where the trader is based. Be cautious if there isn't an address, only an e-mail address or a PO Box Number.
- If making an on-line payment check that the URL starts with 'https'
- If you’re using a website for the first time - do your research. People are always sharing their experiences and warning others in on-line forums
- Don't open links in e-mails
- Ensure that your security software is up to date
- Do NOT assume that a ‘.co.uk’ website is based in the UK. Criminals have developed a way of disguising the true location from where they operate.
Useful websites:
Don’t short change yourself, buy genuine and report counterfeit goods to us!
Contact us: