Published on:
09
July 2012
Clackmannanshire and Stirling Councils Joint Trading Standards Service is warning consumers interested in selling their jewellery to shop around amidst mounting reports of scams across the country.
The warning comes as the price of gold reaches an all time high.
Clackmannanshire and Stirling Councils Joint Trading Standards Service and their Licensing colleagues from both authorities have completed a survey of local gold buyers.
Two nine carat items and an eighteen carat ring were offered for sale to 13 local traders. The prices offered varied from £60 to £142 - in other words by shopping around it would be possible to receive almost two and a half times as much for scrap gold.
Trading Standards Officer Brian Wilson said: "There is a wide disparity in how much shops or dealers will pay for gold and I know a number of authorities are looking at this issue.
"Unfortunately there isn't much Trading Standards can do if people are getting a bad deal, provided the trader is not actually misleading the seller about the gold's worth. We can only urge people to shop around to make sure they are getting a fair price for their gold."
Trading Standards were pleased to note that no false claims were made by any of the traders, in the shops where a price was displayed the price offered was correct however when the weighing equipment that was used was checked seven traders were found to be using unstamped and not fit for use for trade weighing machines in breach of the Weights and Measures Act.
Licensing found that eight of the traders visited were unlicensed for the activities they were conducting.
Paul Fair, Civic Licensing Enforcement Officer with Clackmannanshire Council said "We would advise local traders to contact us to ensure that they hold the correct licence before they start new ventures".
Selling gold jewellery to make ends meet in this recession is becoming increasingly popular but sellers are urged to beware of conmen keen to cash in on the trend.
Top advice from Trading Standards and Licensing:
* Always make sure that the trader you are dealing with is licensed - you can do this by contacting Licensing.
* Be aware of people who visit your home asking if you have any jewellery to sell.
* Exercise caution if you respond to adverts offering to buy your gold if the trader has no fixed premises.
* Remember that if someone tells you that they will give you an amount for your piece of jewellery, that is not the same as saying that this given piece is worth that amount
* Get several quotes to make sure you are getting a fair offer for your jewellery.
* Make sure your jewellery is weighed with accurate scales, verified and stamped by an authorised person, before you are given a price for it.
* If your jewellery contains any precious stones be sure that their value is taken into account. If in doubt get such items valued by a reputable jeweller first.
* Any precious metals dealer is required to display a hallmarking notice in the location where he deals with customers - it is an offence not to do so.
* Look for the carat marking on your jewellery's hallmarking stamp to check the gold's purity - it is likely to be either nine or 18 carat.
Trading Standards can be contacted at Viewforth, 14-20 Pitt Terrace, Stirling, FK8 2ET. Telephone 01786 443322 or by emailing tradingstandards@stirling.gov.uk
Licensing in Clackmannanshire can be contacted at Kilncraigs, Alloa or by emailing licensing@clacks.gov.uk
Licensing in Stirling can be contacted at the same address and telephone number or by emailing licensing@stirling.gov.uk