York Trading Standards often receive complaints and inquiries about the pricing of goods and services. Whether the prices are misleading, or just too good to be true, readers may find the following advice helpful.

- All goods displayed for sale must be priced. This can be on the goods, the shelf-edge, or on an adjacent price list. Unless the sale is restricted to trade buyers only, the price must include VAT. The law does not require the cost of services to be displayed, but where they are they must not be misleading.

- It is an offence for a trader to give a misleading price indication that goods, services or accommodation are available at a price lower than the one the consumer will be asked to pay at the till. To help traders get it right a Code of Practice is available from York Trading Standards. This covers many issues especially sales and special offers.

- During a sale, price labels that refer to a previous price must either state when the previous price was charged, or the items must have been offered for sale at the higher price for at least 28 consecutive days in the last six months. Where there are notices advertising a sale, both the previous price and sale price should be shown.

- Sales should not run forever, and promotions should state what the after-sales price will be and from when it will apply. Similarly, closing down sales and stock clearances should be just that. "A new store cannot open with a closing down sale", advises Liz Levett, Trading Standards manager. "One such shop did in York and was prosecuted."

- Remember free gifts should be completely free and without future obligation

- Traders can refuse to sell goods to customers. So if a £500 suite is mistakenly priced at £50, the trader does not have to sell it for £50. Prices should be corrected when they are known to be wrong, and, depending on the circumstances, a criminal offence may have been committed.

- Some traders make an additional charge when customers pay by credit card. It is legal for them to do so, provided that they bring this to customers' attention before an order is placed. On business premises there should be written notices at the door of a booking hall, at the point of sale, or at the till. The amount or percentage to be charged should be given.

- Some consumers query the differences in prices between shops. It is not illegal to apply a mark-up to goods as there are no laws to limit prices. Traders can reprice goods, but care must be taken when relabelling the goods, as the original lower price must be covered up by the new higher price, to avoid misleading customers.

If you have any queries about this or any other consumer matters contact York Trading Standards, tel 01904 551562, call at reception at 9 St Leonard's Place or email: trading.standards@york.gov.uk. Fax number is (01904 551590).