OFT looks into till roll scam

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is investigating the business activities of a company that has been targeting the pub trade.

Paper Roll Logistics - which sells paper rolls for PDQ credit and debit card readers - is currently being looked into by the OFT after it received a number of complaints from disgruntled customers.

Sarah Smith, who runs the Red Lion Inn in Little Compton, Gloucestershire, told The Publican that she had been invoiced £178 for two boxes of terminal rolls - only to discover they cost just £25.86 for 20 from HSBC.

The Publican tried to contact Paper Roll Logistics but the number displayed on the top of customer invoices was out of use.

Another company - Merchant Retail Supplies - is being investigated by York Trading Standards for employing the same practices. A company spokesman refused to comment until the investigation had been completed.

Anyone with any information about either company should contact their local trading standards office or the OFT directly on 020 7211 8000.