THE ongoing saga of consumer protection – or the lack of it – has been rumbling on again this week.

Once again, this is an example of basic legislation to protect Island residents against unfair practices. And once again, the Business Party has been actively trying to discourage legislators from doing anything about it.

After years and years of deliberations and reports, the States have finally got around to – guess what – asking the public for comments. I just wonder how many of us ordinary consumers are going to turn around and say no thanks, we don’t want any consumer protection, we all want to be fleeced out of our beds by unscrupulous retailers and businesses who want to scram the last penny out of our purses, especially when the economy is in such as shambles.

I do wonder what our ministers think is going to be the real value of a so-called consultation like this. Why the heck don’t they just get on with putting a basic law in place, and ask us about any frills and spills when the Island can start holding its head up as a ‘civilised’ community?

I find it so frustrating, as a journalist, that I have been writing about the self-same issues for years and nothing has actually been done about any of it. As I recall, the business community has in the past urged caution because, they say, ‘the Jersey way’ works fine. In other words, we just have to trust them to do the right thing, because if they don’t, we may not go back for more.

To a certain extent, I can see their point. Last weekend, for instance, I was somewhat put out by two well-known businesses. The one charged me an extra tenner by listing two items instead of just one on the till receipt. The other sold me a box of food which, when I got it home, was clearly ‘off’.

So on Monday, after a day’s work, I went out of my way to visit both establishments. The first quibbled a little, but reasoned that I wouldn’t have bothered to try to claim my money back without due cause and gave me a refund. The second took the smelly box of food away and replaced it with a sound one. Full marks.

However, there are consumers who don’t fare so well – and our Trading Standards department is well aware of them. Trading Standards cite several instances where firms advertise discounts and special prices when, in fact, there are none. The same applies to selling someone a product or service that is not what it says on the tin.

Come on, politicians, for heavens sake get your fingers on the buzzers and give us the legal protection that has been available to UK residents for years. Or are your salaries just money for old rope?

• Read the full column in Saturday’s JEP