11 January 2012
Two clothing collection companies have been taken to court and fined for promoting unlicensed charitable collections in Caerphilly county borough.
Caerphilly County Borough Council's Trading Standards department took the two companies, Hand of Help UK Ltd and Alra Clothing Ltd to court, after they were both found to be distributing charity clothing collection bags without first obtaining a local authority licence.
Both companies were found guilty of offences committed under the House to House Collections Act 1939 (as amended).
Hand of Help UK Ltd was fined a total of £2,000 at Caerphilly Magistrates Court on 3rd January 2012 for offences committed in Hendredenny and Pontllanfraith. The Director, Tomas Pocevicius was fined a total of £500 for the same offences. Costs were also awarded to Caerphilly County Borough Council totalling £250.
Alra Clothing Ltd was fined a total of £340 at Newport Magistrates Court on 22nd December 2011 for offences committed in the Blackwood area. The company was also ordered to pay costs of £505.
Cllr Rob Gough, Cabinet Member for Public Protection said, "It is imperative that companies undertaking door to door collections in our county borough have the correct documentation from the council to allow them to do this legally. I hope these prosecutions will act as a deterrent to others".
For further information on the work Trading Standards carry out in Caerphilly county borough, please visit www.caerphilly.gov.uk/tradingstandards
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