Trading Standards warns of digital switchover aerial rip-off

People could be ripped off by unscrupulous aerial installers in the run up to the digital switchover, Trading Standards (TS) has warned.

Research by Ofcom found that most aerials will continue to work after the switchover and only five to ten per cent of households will need an aerial upgrade.

However, in a mystery shopping telephone exercise of 31 installers, Leicestershire TS found more than a quarter of aerial installers were prepared to mislead consumers, claiming a new TV aerial would be needed without even looking at their existing one.

A similar test by Dorset TS, which called 14 aerial installers and visited 15 electrical retailers, also found nine of these gave bad or misleading advice.

David Bull, head of Leicestershire County Council TS, said: “There are many good and honest aerial installers, but there are some who will aim to catch out unsuspecting and vulnerable consumers particularly in light of the fast-approaching digital switchover.”

In both mystery shopping procedures TS officers posed as consumers, saying they had a three-year-old TV aerial and asking if a new aerial was required in preparation for the digital switchover. After the digital switchover, consumers will only be able to watch television if they have digital TV such as Freeview, Sky or Virgin Media cable. Of these, only Freeview signals require a TV aerial.

Five installers told Dorset shoppers they would need a 'digital aerial' to receive digital TV, when in fact there is no such thing. Out of the electrical stores, one wrongly recommended a new television costing £1,000, when all people need to convert an old television is a Freeview box costing £20.

David Mortimer, head of consumer affairs at Digital UK, said: 'While there is no evidence to date of serious problems with aerial installers providing misleading switchover-related information, Digital UK has procedures in place with Trading Standards and Consumer Direct to monitor and pursue this type of incident.”

He said Digital UK provided information on its website and uses the 'Digital tick' to help consumers identify reliable products, services and advice. Only aerial installers who are qualified Registered Digital Installers are allowed to use the logo.

Digital UK also advised people never to agree to having work done by someone who calls without an appointment and who doesn't show identification. People who encounter scams or feel they are being misled by an aerial installer are urged to report the issue to Consumer Direct or Trading Standards. They can also report anonymously any business they suspect is trading unfairly at www.ripofftipoff.net.

This advice was echoed by the Confederation of Aerial Industries. A representative for the UK trade association for the aerial and satellite industry said: “All our members are ready and willing to give advice about the switchover.

"They would still like to complete a site survey on the property to undertake a signal meter reading and to check cabling and existing equipment before ascertaining what needs to be done (if indeed anything).”

People wishing to check if their aerial is suitable can do this by visiting Teletext page 284 on BBC One and Two, ITV and Channel 4. The test, which has been set up by Digital UK, shows people a row of boxes. If any of these are missing then it is recommended that people call a certified aerial installer.