Registration
If you are a dealer in second hand goods and wish to trade in North Lincolnshire, you must register under the Humberside Act 1982 with North Lincolnshire Council.
To do this, complete and return the "dealer in second hand goods" application form below. There is no charge for registering. Your registration lasts for an indefinite period, or until you surrender your certificate. Any change of the registration details must be notified to trading standards. A revised certificate will be sent to you.
Displaying your registration document
Once registered, you must display your registration document, or a copy of it, on your business premises. Failure to do so could result in a fine.
Keeping accurate records
You must also keep a record of all second hand goods that you acquire in a book/record specifically kept for the purpose. The best way of doing this is to keep all the relevant details in a hard-backed ledger (so that pages cannot be removed). You can store the information electronically, as long as it can be accessed at your business address.
What information and details must I record?
All information should be precise, legible and permanent. Every transaction where goods are acquired must be recorded. You must show all of the following details:
- Date second hand item acquired
- Description of the item
- Quantity
- Name and address of seller.
Failure to record this information could result in a fine.
How can I achieve compliance?
Record in full the details of each significant item you take in for sale:
- Type of goods (painting, washing machine, sofa, vehicle, etc)
- Make
- Model
- Serial number/registration number
- Colour
- Artist
- Subject (landscape picture, name of music etc).
When you take in a significant number of items from a single source (for example, a collection of CDs), you could allocate them a unique lot number. You should attach a sticky label to each item bearing the lot number. Record the lot number against a basic description in your record book. For example, "25 rock CDs, lot number 123" and label each of the CDs with lot number 123.
This should not be the case with significant items such as furniture and domestic appliances.
Why do I have to keep detailed records?
The council and police have a very real concern about domestic burglaries. Generally, people do not steal from homes and garden sheds because they want the items they steal. They steal to sell the items and raise income. The easiest way to sell stolen goods is to pass them through second hand and antique dealers. If you insist on keeping good records, that manner of raising money will be hindered and domestic crime will be reduced.
If you keep poor records you may incriminate yourself by handling stolen goods, however unintentional that might be.
The 'dealer in second hand goods' application form is available to download:
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Don't forget to view the Safety Advice Pack to help you ensure that all the second hand goods you sell are safe.
This is only a guide - if you require further information please contact:
Trading Standards
PO Box 42
Church Square House
Scunthorpe
DN15 6XQ
Tel: (01724) 297664
Fax: (01724) 297895
Email: trading.standards@northlincs.gov.uk.