Watchdog

Y2K threat to consumers

ed specifically to protect your interests as a consumer. Over the page, we check out the latest PC prices on the high street and direct from manufacturers in Price watch. Up and down the country you can see giant black and yellow Millennium Bugs on billboards, trying to draw your attention to the problems businesses face in updating computer systems to deal with the year 2000. You should call the Action 2000 helpline for advice.

But last year, it was TaskForce 2000 you were meant to contact. Then, in October, Margaret Beckett set up Action 2000 under former telecoms regulator Don Cruickshank. Action 2000 replaced TaskForce 2000 in the government's affections.

Industry figures accused the government of setting back dealing with the whole issue by 10 months - not a great start when there are now only 16 months left until the end of 1999.

TaskForce 2000 carried on despite losing government funding and, though they now seem to be co-operating more, there is no love lost between the two groups. Now, Action 2000 has been hit with a writ from a company accusing the taskforce of breach of copyright with its logo. Moreover, insurance companies are simply excluding Year 2000 problems from their policies - and this is even true for domestic appliances like fridges.

To Watchdog, it looks as though people are playing games rather than dealing with the problem. There aren't any easy answers - and there is little over a year to find them.

Action 2000 hotline: 0845 601 2000

Mail Order - know your rights

It's pretty obvious that adverts should show prices, because it's only common sense that you'd want to know how much something costs before deciding whether or not to find out more about it. But the law goes further.

Because it's always possible for unscrupulous suppliers to hide details in the small print, advertisements are meant to be as transparent as possible.

According to the Price Marking Order made in 1991 under the Consumer Protection Act, adverts should always include VAT in their prices except in certain well-defined circumstances. All adverts are divided into four categories by the Order. If it appears in a trade magazine, or is for products that are only aimed at business customers, then its prices don't need to include VAT.

On the other hand, if an advert will only be read by consumers, all prices must include VAT. A fourth category, of adverts read both by consumers and business users, should display prices including VAT but can show them before tax as well. In short, if you read an advert in What PC?, it must show prices inclusive of VAT. It can show VAT-exclusive prices too - but this is an extra.

Case file

The PC market is fast-moving, with companies starting up all the time.

Unfortunately, the corollary to this is that companies close down frequently as well, often with little public warning. One such was Synteq, which had submitted several good systems to What PC? tests over the past few months.

At the end of July, several people contacted us to say that they could no longer contact the Perivale company, and raised concerns over their warranties. According to Greenford Trading Standards Office, which covers the area, Synteq ceased trading and moved out of its offices on the 29th July.

It did not owe any money, and Watchdog has heard from prospective buyers who had their cheques returned uncashed. Nonetheless, existing customers now find themselves without warranties or technical support should anything go wrong with their PCs. This highlights the importance of checking your supplier thoroughly, but you must also accept that some companies may just cease to exist without showing any signs beforehand.

* If you are concerned about Synteq or any other company which may have ceased trading, you should contact your local TSO in the first instance.

Write to Watchdog

If you have a case for us to solve or a story that needs investigating write to: Watchdog, What PC? Editorial, VNU Business Publications, 32-34 Broadwick Street, London W1A 2HG, or e-mail us on watchdog@whatpc.vnu.co.uk.

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