Protecting the consumer is a key element to delivering switchover successfully and your trading standards officers will be crucial in achieving this.

The programme will bring consumers into direct contact with retailers, digital service providers and aerial installers. Most consumers will make the switch successfully, helped by Digital UK’s information campaigns, including TV, print and door-drops to every household as each region approaches switchover, together with information to local authorities and other agencies.

Protecting consumers effectively throughout switchover can only be achieved by working in partnership with key professionals in the consumer protection and enforcement field. Trading standards officers will be key to protecting residents through the switchover, and many of the consumer problems associated with switchover will already be familiar to them.

Councils will want to ensure that trading standards departments are aware of potential switchover issues and the regional timetable. This will help them prevent and tackle abuses in their communities and ensure that the issue is incorporated into business planning.

Digital UK has regional teams in place at least 18 months before TV switchover in each region. For a presentation to your regional group please contact us.

The Digital Tick Logo
The ‘digital tick’ logo is used in a variety of ways to help guide the public through switchover. For a full explanation of how these uses are licensed and managed go to www.digitallogo.co.uk.

Specific uses of the logo include indicating TV products which will work through TV switchover; indicate retail staff who have passed a test to become a ‘digital advisor’. Stores which are licensed to use the ‘digital tick’ materials can be located by an online search at www.digitaluk.co.uk/wheretobuy.

Aerial and TV systems installers are licensed separately through the Registered Digital Installer Licensing Board (RDI-LB). Those entitled to use the logo will have passed the relevant NVQ course, been CRB checked and have the relevant insurance. Registered installers can be searched for by postcode and area at www.rdi-lb.tv.

Both Digital UK and the RDI-LB will take action to protect these logos and their assets and to assist with an investigation or prosecution; including provision of a witness statement.

You can contact Digital UK at localgov@digitaluk.co.uk and the RDI-LB at info@rdi-lb.tv.

Key Digital UK partners include:

• The Switchover Help Scheme, which has rigorous processes in place to safeguard those who take up the assistance offered. For more information go to www.helpscheme.co.uk.
• Consumer Direct, which has temporary codes in place to identify switchover enquires by type and volume.
• Camden Trading Standards, which acts as the Home Authority for Digital UK
• The Registered Digital Installer Licensing Body (RDI-LB)

In addition, Digital UK work with:

• The Trading Standards Institute
• Local Authorities coordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS)
• The Office of Fair Trading team
• Operation Liberal, the division of police responsible for monitoring doorstep crime
• National and local consumer groups

This link will take you to the key consumer protection issues.

Digital UK has put together some useful factsheets to help prepare residents for switchover.