Swansea businessman caught advertising illegally on Facebook

PEOPLE using social media to advertise their businesses are being urged to do it legally after trading standards in Swansea warned it is keeping an eye on things.

The call follows a court case at Swansea Crown Court in which a Swansea man was  given a six-month suspended prison sentence linked to advertising on Facebook.

The offences related to an accident insurance claims service operated by Ryan Alex Davey from Ravenhill, Swansea.

Mr Davey was advertising the company via the popular social media website as well as running his own website.

He was found guilty of three offences relating to advertising a regulated claims management service without authorisation from the Ministry of Justice.

Mr Davey pleaded guilty to two offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and one offence under the Compensation Act 2006.

Swansea Council’s trading standards department says anyone seeking to advertise a business in this way should seek proper guidance and advice.

Cllr Mark Child, Cabinet Member for Wellbeing and Healthy City, said: “Our trading standards team is using social media more and more to look at businesses that are advertising services to see if they are doing it legally.

“Unauthorised traders, such as the example highlighted in this case, can cause economic and reputational damage to legitimate businesses in our local area.

“We’ll continue to make every effort in tackling problem traders who are flouting these laws.”

The defendant was already serving a 20-month suspended sentence for his part in a bogus Sky insurance scam which involved 14 other defendants. He received a further two months for each offence.

In addition to the suspended prison sentence, the judge also disqualified Mr Davey from being a company director for seven years.