Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (2005/29/EC) relative to "Bait & Switch"

Thanks to those who viewed my petition text over the past few days.

Directive (2005/29/EC), put in place a set of Regulations to clarify rights and simplify the process of trading within the EU. Its principle aims is to boost confidence and give businesses a uniform and transparent EU wide set of rules. It is aimed at the business consumer relationship.

In a for like situation the principle aims of the Directive have not been properly taken into account by Cork City Council as far as implementation of the Tourist Train Contract is concerned. I have not been in receipt of anything resembling transparent and fair, as far as the trading position (pick up/set down) is concerned, relative to what the contract implies and proper implementation should have provided for that so as to facilitate our planned launch of service in May 2016.

This is reflective of a unfair "bait and switch" type scenario that the Tourist Train project has had to cope with since early 2016 and it thus prevented launch of the service which was scheduled for May 2016. The contract I signed with the City Council has a requirement for a position (bait) in the center rather than the remote back street positions (switch) as were offered which are commercially non viable.

Such "bait and switch" business methodologies are blacklisted and banned by the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive. The reason for the "switch" in this case was in response to an over generous favoritism consideration that has been afforded to the Open Top Buses and such is an Unfair Commercial Practice. We were told of the unfair favoritism consideration "switch" in early 2016 in response to a question we asked when the proposed street trials were not being facilitated as planned by the Council.

That "switch" bestowed unfair advantage upon the Open Top Bus Operator thus facilitating thereafter the Open Top conversion of two ex-London Transport buses and the destruction of economic value in the Tourist Train Project. Likewise we were told of the resultant destruction of economic value upon the Tourist Train Project in 2016. It is all reflective of an Unfair Commercial Practice which is contrary to the Directive, as it sets out to outlaw such unfair commercial practice.

Thus I am seeking that pressure be maintained on the grouping to rectify and dismantle the unfair trading conditions that are in existence thus preventing the front office staff at the Cork City Partnership from activating my Back to Work Scheme arrangement.