'Report price gougers' urge Moray trading standards

BUSINESSESS seeking to make extra profits by charging excessive prices for scarce goods can now be reported.

Moray Trading standards section have hightlighted how consumers can report such instances to the authorities so that they can be examined and, if approiate, dealt with.

A statement on the Moray trading standards facebook said: We know that the majority of businesses are doing the right thing during this difficult time, and many are going out of their way to help their customers, showing fantastic community spirit.

"However, there may be a small minority who attempt to profit from a crisis. If you have concerns about a business acting unfairly during the coronavirus outbreak, please report it to the Competition and Markets Authority."

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) can be reached at https://www.gov.uk/govern…/collections/cma-covid-19-response

Andrea Coscelli, the CMA’s chief executive, said: "This is obviously a time when we all have to behave responsibly to protect our fellow citizens, and particularly those who are most vulnerable. We urge retailers to behave responsibly in the exceptional circumstances of the Covid-19 outbreak.

"But if they do not, our taskforce is monitoring market developments to enable us to intervene as quickly as possible. We have a range of options at our disposal, from warnings to enforcement action to seeking emergency powers. We hope that such action will not be necessary, but we will do whatever is required to stop a small minority of businesses that may seek to exploit the present situation."

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