Be Alert

Examples of suspicious behaviour by potential users of your storage facility might include:

  • Insisting on paying cash payments only.
  • Providing different payment details to the person named on the agreement.
  • Not being able to provide the relevant identification.
  • Third party individuals taking out additional units under the agreement of someone else, but failing to provide identification.
  • Refusing to have their picture taken.
  • Subletting.
  • People working inside the units e.g., assembling or packaging goods.
  • Frequent visits by people who collect goods from the unit for onward delivery.
  • The activity of the unit is out of keeping with the type of goods stored e.g., furniture for long term storage but daily visits by the customer or other people.
  • Staff taking receipt of large quantities of parcels for the customer or unit number from commercial courier operators.
  • Frequent and direct deliveries from overseas (previous seizures of counterfeit goods have originated from China, South East Asia, India, Pakistan, Turkey, and Eastern Europe).

If you suspect a customer is storing counterfeit or other illicit goods such as non-duty paid alcohol or tobacco, report it to:

England & Wales: Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 or by using local contact details if you have them. If necessary, they will pass relevant information onto another agency, such as the Police or HMRC.

Scotland: Trading Standards via the Advice Direct Scotland consumer helpline 0808 164 6000 or by using local contact details if you have them. If necessary, they will pass relevant information onto another agency, such as the Police or HMRC.

Northern Ireland: Trading Standards Service via the Consumerline on 0300 123 6262 or by using local contact details if you have them. If necessary, they will pass relevant information onto another agency, such as the Police or HMRC.

If you wish to report someone you believe is suspicious, it is important to try and make a note of their physical description and any vehicle registration they may be using. This information will greatly assist Trading Standards investigations or other Enforcement Agencies.

IN ANY EMERGENCY, ALWAYS CALL THE POLICE – Dial 999