Issued By West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service

LOCAL COMPANY’S CREDIT LICENCE REVOKED

The Office of Fair Trading has revoked the credit licences of a string of West Yorkshire based companies: Lumbamatic Ltd, Lumbamatic Commercial Ltd and Purecall Ltd. These West Yorkshire based companies, which are all operated by Managing Director Marc Jones, sell orthopaedic beds.  The companies are operated from various addresses in Leeds and Wakefield.

The credit licences were revoked after Trading Standards Departments around the country received a large number of complaints about the companies.  Removing their credit licences is a significant deterrent and means that the companies can no longer arrange finance agreements for their customers.

Officers from West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service were very pleased with the outcome. Martin Wood Chief Officer of West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service stated,

 “This Service has received over 120 complaints about the company from all over the country, ranging from high pressure sales techniques; selling inappropriate equipment to elderly and vulnerable people; failing to refund deposits paid by customers after they had cancelled orders perfectly legitimately and failing to repair faulty beds.  The OFT have taken the trading practices of this company very seriously and hence the licences have been revoked.  We will be keeping a close eye on any future trading practices of the company and its directors”.

Councillor Graham Clarke, Chair of West Yorkshire Joint Services added,

 “Let this be a warning to all traders who disregard consumer rights. In this case I am particularly concerned that most of the people affected come from vulnerable groups. If consumers would like more information on how to deal with high pressure selling, doorstep visits and unsolicited calls, please phone our Consumer Helpline.” 

The companies involved now have 28 days to appeal to the OFT against the revocation of their licences.

If anyone has a complaint about any of these companies, which are now trading from 8a Bank Street, Wakefield, they should contact the West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service Consumer Helpline on 0113 3848848.

For further information please contact:

Paul Smith, Principal Officer, tel 0113 289 8219

Paul Cooper, Divisional Manager, tel 0113 289 8240

Graham Hebblethwaite, Divisional Manager/General Media Contact, tel 0113 289 8218