Complaints Of Inflated Prices Raised With Local Councillors

Stallholders and pharmacies say wholesale prices have rocketed

Local residents have raised concerns with councillors about the price of product at fruit and veg stalls and for protective masks and gloves in two local pharmacies. There have also been complaints that one fresh produce stall did not have any pricing displayed.

One local complained about paying £4 for a cauliflower, while others raised the issue of inflated prices for protective masks in two local pharmacies. He said he was charged 150 per cent more for protective gloves normally retailing at £8.95.

Councillor Joanna Biddolph said that she had checked out queries raised on our forum and also raised with councillors.

"After comments raised by residents on th e forum, I have today spoken with Phil Collins, who owns the Collins stall opposite the Catholic Church which Alfie ran for so long. I raised two issues: the price of the produce and the fact that the prices were not displayed on the stall. Phil told me that a large range of British fruit and veg has now run out; growers are growing but it will take about three weeks before we see home-grown veg back on the stall. There are no British cauliflower, for example. The pointy cabbage that we all seem to love is also imported. Prices of imported foods are inevitably higher. Phil told me he is currently paying £3 for a cauliflower. He has to add a mark up to pay for staff and cover overheads.

"On the need to display prices, Phil said he would ask the team to do that. I suggested they also put up a notice explaining why prices are higher. When I am next there I will check that the team knows it must display prices and that residents are concerned about profiteering.

"All Chiswick councillors are of course keen to make sure residents' rights are protected. Walking away and shopping elsewhere is always an option but It is difficult if prices aren't on display and you only find out the cost at the end when it can be embarrassing to challenge the amount you've been asked to pay.

"Several councillors have had representations from residents about pricing including at some pharmacists, too - and this has also been raised on the forum. We have taken up those representations and will continue to do so. As with the cost of fruit and veg, some prices could be affected by scarcity of supply and it's important to make like-for-like comparisons. If residents are concerned then please contact one of your local councillors. Otherwise, if you would like to raise concerns yourself, please contact:

Hounslow trading standards department: tradingstandards@hounslow.gov.uk
The Competition & Markets Authority Covid-19 monitoring team:

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) says it wants to ensure that traders do not exploit the current situation to take advantage of people.

It will consider any evidence that companies may have broken competition or consumer protection law, for example by charging excessive prices or making misleading claims about the efficacy of protective equipment. And it will take direct enforcement action in appropriate cases.

In addition, the CMA will assess whether it should advise Government to consider taking direct action to regulate prices.

CMA Chairman Lord Tyrie said: “We will do whatever we can to act against rip-offs and misleading claims, using any or all of our tools; and where we can’t act, we’ll advise government on further steps they could take, if necessary.”

CMA Chief Executive Andrea Coscelli said:

“We urge retailers to behave responsibly throughout the coronavirus outbreak and not to make misleading claims or charge vastly inflated prices. We also remind members of the public that these obligations may apply to them too if they resell goods, for example on online marketplaces.”

March 23, 2020