BOE’s Bailey Dismisses Claims Brexit Tightened Jobs Market
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey dismissed claims by economists that Britain leaving the European Union has helped
2023-06-28 22:58
Aviation Capital Group Announces Delivery of Seventh A321neo to Frontier Airlines in 2023
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 17, 2023--
2023-08-18 07:56
Pain and terror felt by passengers before Boeing Max crashed can be considered, judge rules
A federal judge is ruling that families of passengers who died in the second crash of a Boeing 737 Max can seek damages for the pain and terror suffered by their relatives before the plane crashed in Ethiopia
2023-06-01 00:54
Facebook Marketplace is most complained-about online retail platforms
Facebook Marketplace is the most complained-about online retail platform for selling counterfeit, poor-quality and potentially unsafe goods, Trading Standards has reported. The online giant, which enables third-party sellers to trade goods on the platform via the marketplace, was criticised for being slow to take action against problem sellers and for enabling misleading product descriptions, counterfeit goods and potentially harmful products to reappear on its platform after being taken down. A national survey by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) found the online giant causes its officers the most concern, as well as being unresponsive or unco-operative when contacted about problem sellers. More than half (53 per cent) of respondents representing about 50 local authorities across the UK identified Facebook as the most complained-about online marketplace – more than all of the others combined. If it wants to be seen as a proper online retailer where people can buy safe and legitimate goods, it needs to start acting like one CTSI chief executive John Herriman The CTSI’s survey, the first of its kind, also found that Trading Standards teams were unable to properly address problems with online marketplaces because of a “triple whammy” of recurring issues – unco-perative businesses, unsuitable legislation and limited resources. Just 10 per cent of Trading Standards officers said they had been able to take action against online marketplaces as a result of these three obstacles. The CTSI’s survey found that 45 per cent of officers cited a lack of co-operation from online marketplaces as a recurring problem, 63 per cent said the law as it stands is not fit for purpose and 57 per cent had received no response when attempting to contact sellers on online marketplaces. Some 59 per cent said they had been unable to locate details about where third-party sellers on online marketplaces were based and 29 per cent said they wee unable to deal with complaints about online marketplaces because of a lack of time and resources. CTSI chief executive John Herriman said: “Facebook Marketplace needs to up its game. At a time when more and more people are going online to buy things, there is a real urgency for online retailers to take their responsibilities to their customers more seriously. Currently, online marketplaces like eBay and Facebook Marketplace are operating with fewer safety regulations than traditional high street retailers, eroding fair competition and allowing the sale of unsafe goods to flood the market unabated Martyn Allen, Electrical Safety First “The fact that Facebook Marketplace is an offshoot of a social media platform rather than a service that was built as an online retailer from the ground up speaks volumes. If it wants to be seen as a proper online retailer where people can buy safe and legitimate goods, it needs to start acting like one. “Failing to take action against sellers who use their platform to mislead, rip off and potentially endanger consumers just isn’t good enough. “We are calling for all online marketplaces to take action against problem sellers, for the law to be tightened up so enforcers have more tools at their disposal to protect consumers, and for more resources that enable us to do that more effectively.” A Meta spokesman said: “We take these issues seriously and when we find listings that violate our rules, we remove them. “We also work closely with external partners and respond to valid legal requests from law enforcement and the Office for Product Safety and Standards, to prevent illegal activity on our platforms.” Phil Lewis, director general of the Anti-Counterfeiting Group (ACG), said: “Criminals rely on legal e-commerce platforms, social media, maritime freight companies, express couriers, airlines, postal services and internet hosting services to set up rogue shopping sites. “ACG is calling on government to recognise the growing international threats to our families, job-providing businesses and the economy. “Appropriate enforcement resources and a policy architecture are desperately needed to ensure the companies providing these services work alongside our enforcement authorities and businesses, to combat this intensifying threat.” Martyn Allen, technical director of the charity Electrical Safety First, said: “Sadly, the high number of complaints Trading Standards officers receive regarding online purchases comes as no surprise. Online retailers like Facebook Marketplace need to be held to account just like any other type of business, otherwise consumers and legitimate businesses lose out Yvonne Fovargue, APPG on Consumer Protection “Currently, online marketplaces like eBay and Facebook Marketplace are operating with fewer safety regulations than traditional high street retailers, eroding fair competition and allowing the sale of unsafe goods to flood the market unabated. This puts UK citizens at serious risk of injury and harm. “It’s been a year and a half since the UK Government promised publication of the Product Safety Review, which is expected to include proposals to protect British consumers when they shop online. “The time for waiting is over – the Government must prioritise publishing the Review without any further delay.” Yvonne Fovargue, chairwoman of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Consumer Protection, said: “Since the pandemic and now, with the cost-of-living crisis, more people are buying products from online marketplaces. “These consumers deserve to be treated fairly and should be able to be confident that what they buy is safe and accurately described. “Online retailers like Facebook Marketplace need to be held to account just like any other type of business, otherwise consumers and legitimate businesses lose out.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live UKRI announces £50 million to develop trustworthy and secure AI ‘Last Beatles record’ was created using AI, says Paul McCartney Put ‘public good’ at heart of AI and new tech, Starmer to say
2023-06-21 12:15
EU aspirant Moldova prepares to host major international summit
Final preparations for a major summit of European leaders are being made in Moldova, a sign of the Eastern European country’s ambitions to draw closer to the West
2023-05-31 23:26
Bitmain to Invest $54 Million in Core Scientific, Inc. as Part of New Supply Contract
HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 21, 2023--
2023-09-22 11:48
China Foreign Minister to Skip Asean Meeting, Extending Absence
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang will skip a meeting of Southeast Asia’s top diplomats in Jakarta, according to
2023-07-11 14:19
France's Macron slams hire of US economist for EU antitrust role
By Sudip Kar-Gupta and Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday criticised EU antitrust chief Margrethe
2023-07-19 02:48
London Boroughs Buy £300 Million of Property to Move Homeless
London boroughs have spent about £300 million ($367 million) since the start of 2017 buying properties outside their
2023-11-14 13:16
Teamsters union pickets two Amazon warehouses in Los Angeles
The Teamsters union on Friday picketed outside two Amazon.com warehouses in Los Angeles, protesting against the online retailer's
2023-09-30 02:56
KB Home Announces the Grand Opening of Its Newest Community in Highly Desirable Southwest Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 24, 2023--
2023-11-24 21:17
Kioxia Introduces New PCIe® 5.0 SSDs for Enterprise and Data Center Infrastructures
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 8, 2023--
2023-08-08 13:55
You Might Like...
Yellen China Visit Seeks to Usher In More Talks Amid Tensions
US Considers Twin Defense Treaties to Achieve Israel-Saudi Arabia Normalization
Baltic states ban vehicles with Russian license plates in line with EU sanctions interpretation
World’s No. 2 Gold Miner Is Trying to Get Bigger in Copper
Alaska salmon season back on after court halts closure that sought to protect orcas
CPAP maker Philips agrees to pay at least $479 million to users over recalled devices
Czech power company CEZ reports 1st half of year net profit of $1 billion, 34% down year-on-year
Morgan Stanley Sets $12 Billion Profit Goal for Wealth Business