Surcharges for the Highlands
21 January 2012
The Highland Council Trading Standards department has taken up the battle against internet surcharges for the Scottish Highlands.
The SCP Manifesto for the Scottish election in 2011 drew attention to these unjust surcharges. “We highlight that some companies discriminate against certain postcodes by adding unfair surcharges.”
The Highland Council’s “Internet Delivery Charges Survey” is still open for submissions until 31st January. It has received over 300 submissions to date.
Inverness, the capital city of the Highlands, one of six nominated Millennium cities in the UK in 2000, with an international airport, is treated as if it is an offshore island by some mailing companies. National conferences are held in Inverness by such as the British Medical Association, and the Scottish National Party. The Scottish Golf Open was held nearby in August 2011. We have good road, rail and air connections. There is no excuse for such shoddy treatment.
The Highland Council has a duty to enforce consumer protection laws surrounding internet sales and the Trading Standards Service has embarked on a project to trace and tackle those businesses that fall foul of internet trading law.