Scarborough-based printer cartridge supplier Your Printer Cartridge Company of Hoxton Road, Scarborough, has been fined £4,000 by York Magistrates after pleading guilty to three offences of misleading advertising.
North Yorkshire Council’s trading standards service launched an investigation after receiving complaints from small business owners who had bought cartridges.
Although the owners believed the cartridges were from genuine, original manufacturers, they had been remanufactured, and either did not work at all or printed very poorly.
In one case, the administrator at a food bank was informed she would receive a genuine Canon product. She was told it was half price because it was old stock that had not been sold to schools and government organisations because of the pandemic.
The owner of a motor repair business was told “all we sell are originals… we don’t do any compatibles or refills”. An office manager was quoted a price for HP cartridges but when he tried to use the items supplied the printer displayed a message saying they were not original.
The court heard that the company directors, Laura Cooper and Lee Keenan, have provided written undertakings to the trading standards service about their future conduct in operating this or any other business.
In addition to the fine of £4,000, the company was ordered to pay £190 victim surcharge to the court and £700 in prosecution costs.
Executive member for trading standards, Cllr Greg White, said: “The last few years have been particularly tough for small businesses, and it is disappointing that a company based in North Yorkshire has added to those difficulties by misleading customers about its products.
“We want the county to be a place where new and existing businesses can thrive and grow, and our trading standards team will take action to protect legitimate businesses as well as consumers.”
