ELECTRICAL retailer Colourvision has been served with an order by the Office of Fair Trading banning it from offering credit facilities.

The Liverpool-based company and all its subsidiaries, including Colorvision (JB) Ltd of Bolton, have had their credit licence revoked, which will mean they will be unable to offer hire purchase or credit agreements to customers.

But the company will be able to continue offering credit facilities in its stores for the time being, because it has lodged an appeal against the decision by an adjudicating officer officer appointed by John Bridgeman, Director General of Fair Trading. Colorvision (JB) Ltd insisted in a recent BEN story that Bolton stores were not the subject of any trading standards complaints. But an OFT spokesperson confirmed today that the judgement will affect shops in the town if the appeal is lost.

She told the Evening News: "The judgement affects Colorvision and all its subsidiaries. Shops throughout the country including those in Bolton will be affected by it."

In October, when the OFT threatened to revoke the licences, Jim Brown, Managing Director of Colorvision (JB) Ltd said: "Although we are a subsidiary of the company, none of the complaints to the OFT relate to shops in the Bolton area. "We are perceived as a local company, having traded here for 13 years, and have excellent relations with the local trading standards department and with our 64,000 customers."

Colorvision plc said the judgement would have a devastating impact on the company which strongly believes it is fit to hold its credit licence and will be vigorously contesting the decision.

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