FPA Connect Autumn 24 - Flipbook - Page 31
Anne Sutton: Thanks for joining me Philip and for sparing the time in your
busy schedule to respond to our members9 questions. First up, many of our
members would like to know how to go about raising an issue with the
Regulatory and Compliance team. Can you confirm what the really
important information is, and explain why it9s important to include it in
order for a challenge to be raised?
Philip LeShirley: Delighted to be here Anne, and that9s a great question to kick off with.
In short, members should complete the online compliance form the FPA has created
for all complaints. The form captures all of the information our enforcement officers will
need to investigate the complaint. The language should be kept as simple and nontechnical as possible, because the easier it is to understand, the more likely a local
authority is to investigate. Members must provide photographs and weblinks to
support each complaint, and ensure a separate form is completed for each business
about which a complaint has been made.
Anne Sutton: What is the correct way for our members to use accreditations
and/ or certification?
Philip: By referencing accreditations and/or certificates, your members
are making a statement about their product, business or services. This
constitutes a claim, and all claims must not only be true, but able to be
evidenced upon request. In practice, this will mean only referencing
accreditations that have not expired, and are relevant to the
activity/product in question. If certificates have been issued, then again,
they should still be 8in date9 and also not mislead as to who they have
been issued to. For example, if one member of staff receives a
certificate, it is unlikely that the organisation as a whole will be able to
use it on their website or products.
Anne: How far should our members go to ensure products supplied to them are
supplied are as described?
Philip: This will always be a matter of fact and will be based on a number of factors,
including how long your member has used that supplier and whether any problems have
been encountered in the past. Certainly, doing nothing is not an option.
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FPA CONNECT
