A fraudulent jeweller who sold fake and unhallmarked jewellery to unsuspecting members of the public was fined a total of £5,480 at Tottenham Magistrates Court on 18 February 2016 after he was prosecuted by Enfield Council.
Meftuni Erbil, 40, Director of Citon Ltd, of Sweet Briar Grove, Edmonton, who traded as Erbiller Jewellers, 9 South Mall, Edmonton Green, was prosecuted under the Hallmarking Act 1973 and the Trade Marks Act 1994.
On 16 December 2014, Trading Standards officers from Enfield Council visited Mr Erbil at his shop in Edmonton Green and found that weighing machines in the premises were not suitable for purpose, they also asked him to remove the ‘No refunds’ sign which was displayed. Officers also requested that all non hallmarked items be removed from sale and told him to display a sign giving his business name and full address.
After this visit, officers confirmed Mr Erbil had not submitted any of his items for assay (to be hallmarked), and he was warned any non-hallmarked items would be seized if he failed to comply.
During a follow up visit on 17 February 2015, Trading Standards officers and staff from the Assay office, who oversee the testing and hallmarking of precious metals, visited Erbiller Jewellers and seized 12 items in the shop as examples of non-hallmarked and counterfeit jewellery. A fake Cartier bracelet was found for sale on the premises; only after this did Mr Erbil apply to get his items assayed.
By April 2015, officers received a complaint that the shop was selling fake watches and sunglasses. Other businesses who were complying with the law complained they were being disadvantaged by the business. Enquiries with the Assay Office revealed no articles were being submitted for assay.
Enfield Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Daniel Anderson, said “I am pleased that our Trading Standards brought this case against Erbiller Jewellers.
“It is very difficult to ascertain how much precious metal is contained in items of jewellery just by looking at it or touching it. There are some unscrupulous dealers who will try and pass off items of jewellery with low amounts of precious metal content as having high amounts. By using a hallmark, the exact purity of an items precious metal can be clarified and confirmed – so that consumers can be safe in the knowledge that what they are buying is a genuine and legitimate product.
“Not only did Mr Erbil believe he was above the law by failing to hallmark his jewellery but it seems he was also selling counterfeit items. Enfield Council will not tolerate such behaviour and any shop caught selling items such as these will be prosecuted.”
