click/collect service

[luke1]

hi new to the forum, just wondering if anyone could help clear some things up for me.

we run a small business that is now non essential, we have opened operating a strict click and collect service, online payments then collect in store.

there is another company/shop just up the road from us that is the exact same as in selling the same products etc.

on the start of lockdown v2 we had a visit from trading standards asking questions about how we are running click and collect. they mentioned that payments at the store is against the protocol of click and collect and they would be able to shut us down.

now i have just found that the shop up the road is taking phone orders and are taking cash/card at the store?

is that not also breaking the rules of click and collect or will i be able to do the same?

any help/links to the correct information would be greatly appreciated

 

[mattk]

Did you ask trading standards to show you the rules which state payment has to be in advance, as I cannot see it on the Gov web site?

I would also question the legality of you opening your shop for collection in store, as the rules state:

"Any business or venue that provides goods for sale or hire and is not listed above must close (other than where there is an explicit exemption for a specific purpose, as set out below). They may continue offering delivery and click-and-collect services (where items are pre-ordered and collected without entering the premises)."

https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...sing-certain-businesses-and-venues-in-england