The Carpet Foundation completes first stage of OFT Consumer Codes Approval Scheme

158/05 18 August 2005

The Carpet Foundation has become the first association in the furniture sector to complete Stage One of the OFT's Consumer Codes Approval Scheme (CCAS), which aims to promote and safeguard consumer interests (see note 2).

By completing Stage One, the Carpet Foundation's code of practice has met the OFT's core criteria in principle. The Carpet Foundation will have to prove that the code is working in practice during the second stage in order for the code to achieve OFT approval (see note 3).

The Carpet Foundation code of practice promises the following benefits:

procedures for dealing with consumer complaints and a conciliation service
comprehensive monitoring procedures
an independent redress scheme (arbitration)
an independent disciplinary panel to ensure that the code is complied with and enforced
clear and concise information on cancellation rights and an obligation to use fair terms and conditions
protection of consumers' deposits and a range of free guarantees, including a one year guarantee against installation faults where the Registered Specialist is responsible for the installation and a two year guarantee against pile reversal for carpets manufactured by Carpet Foundation manufacturers.

The Carpet Foundation will now be invited to provide the OFT with evidence that these processes are working in order to achieve OFT approval.

Codes are approved only once they demonstrate they are effective in promoting consumer interests beyond the minimum required by existing consumer protection law. Code sponsors and members of the OFT approved codes can then be licensed to display the OFT Approved code logo. They will also benefit from the OFT's promotion of approved codes and the CCAS.

Welcoming the Carpet Foundation's completion of Stage One, Penny Boys, Executive Director of the OFT, said:

'I warmly welcome the steps taken by the Carpet Foundation and its members in developing this code of practice. It will ensure greater consumer protection for their customers and raise standards of service. We look forward to working with them as they progress to the next stage.'

NOTES

1. The Carpet Foundation is a trade association for the carpet industry.

2. The aim of the OFT's CCAS is to promote and safeguard consumers' interests by helping consumers identify better businesses and to encourage those businesses to raise their standards of customer service. The core criteria cover the organisation of the code sponsor, the preparation and content of the code, complaints handling, monitoring, compliance and publicity.

3. The CCAS consists of two co-dependent stages:

Stage One - The code sponsor makes a promise that its code meets the OFT's core criteria. The code sponsor must make sure its code contains measures designed to remove or ease consumer concerns and undesirable trading practices in its sector. At this stage, the code sponsor is not allowed to claim OFT approval for its code because there has not yet been an evaluation of how well the code is working in practice.

Stage Two - The code sponsor must prove its code lives up to the initial promise it made. The burden of proof lies with the code sponsor. The code sponsor must also show that the code is being effectively implemented by all who claim to adhere to it and that consumer disputes are being properly resolved. When this burden of proof has been met, OFT approval of the code and promotion will follow.

4. See the Consumer Codes Approval Scheme section on this website for further information.

Back to: Press releases

Navigate the OFT website:

News and updates

What was new in...

Feedback

Press releases 2005 -