TheVirginMask

I an't do this because it is odds on that my personal details would become known to Scis. Any chance that someone who already is known could lodge a query like this with Trade Descriptions?

Do people think it is worth lodging?

Argh!! It won't let me put the URL's in - it converts them to their embeded values.

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Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing concerning the organisation Scientology and whether they meet various requirements of trading and operating within the UK.

There are two primary concerns.

The first is their description of themselves as a, "Church." To the best of my knowledge, they are required to have a religion in order to be able to describe themselves such and, in fact, they have no known belief. The belief that they held, according to their own document, the OT III, was openly denounced by a church spokesman on American TV.

Reference ... http:// www . youtube . com /watch?v=oTxfHz6kEMk


The second is that they can actually deliver the service that they are advertising. They advertise their ability to put in to practice the teachings of the science, Dianetics. This purports to take an individual to a state of, "clear."

However, after reading Dianetics as originally published by L.Ron Hubbard, this appears to be unattainable. Testament to this was Jason Beghe, who spent several years practicing Scientology and came out of the organisation. In the two hour video, Jason testifies to his frustration at not being able to achieve this goal based on the account that they didn't actually have any clue as to how to take an individual to Clear status, repeatedly announcing various techniques that they said that would work, but didn't, and so on to the next announcement. To quote Jason in the referred video, "There is no f**king clear." Is Scientology then guilty of false advertising in the UK?

Reference ... http:// www . youtube . com /watch?v=NNUjMz9-W2I


I look forward to your investigation and response on these issues.

Yours sincerely,

Anonyunderpants

I tried to have this looked at by York trading standards but the stupid woman there didn't get "IT DOESNT MATTER IF THAT IS THEIR BELIEF - THEY ARE SELLING A PRODUCT BASED ON THAT UNSUBSTANTIATED BELIEF".

If someone does want to pursue this, the Scilons are in clear violation of the consumer protection from unfair trading regulations 2008. This is what I've included in a letter to the Scilon solicitors in another unrelated matter:

TheVirginMask

Try West Sussex - or East Sussex - I think they're on the border ... a complaint to the team whos patch they are on might be better received.

douchebag

Fuck it complain to as many as possible. Wherever Dianetics is sold, there is a potential breach.

kit667

I would certainly push that they are selling things whilst describing themselves as a Church, despite not having legal religious status in this country. This could be a very interesting tac to go on although i don't think it would actually amount to much it can't hurt to poke at it and make TS aware of it.

As for a state of attaining 'clear' ,we can not say that this is unatainable based on the experiences of one man, or that they are falsly marketing this. Clearly there are many people who have passed through clear and our now higher level scientologists. It would be the same as accusing Buddhism of falsly telling me i can become enlightened simply because i suck at meditation. yes i know the two groups are vastly different, the Buddhists do not use quack 'science' nor are they actually charging me vast sums of money ... but you see the comparison. it becoems a case of 'he said; she said'.

Anonyunderpants

That's precisely what the difference is - Buddhists do not charge money for their beliefs. Scientology is not recognised as a religion and sells a product - therefore they are a business and they must be able to back up their claims with Scientific evidence. If they are marketing clear as everything that they are, then they need to be able to get a Clear to fly, or fry brains or change the weather. Given that if they could do that then it WOULD spread through the scientific community like wildfire, I really don't think they have a leg to stand on.

One of the specific acts prohibited by trading standards is selling "Miracle cures".

TheVirginMask

I think there are some important things on the "clear" side. First, as Beghe says, they have never actually had it, and I'd like to see some of their purported "clears" actually tested to make sure their claims are true. Almost just like other things get tested to make sure the manufacturers/service providers claims are what they say they are...
I believe that any person presenting themselves as "clear" who fails to live up to the description as stated in the Dianetics book, might actually end up being open to charges of fraud.

wolfyrik

I've been barking up this tree for a while. OFT/TS will only intervene if ENOUGH people complain. Things to point out;
Missing prices on adverts/magazines regarding their products.

Any claims of ability to heal/improve the body and/or the mind, written or spoken (though obviously that's harder to prove).

Any claims that if you don't take scientology courses, something bad will happen to you/your family etc

In order for these to count, you don't have to buy anything. The fact that the offer/claim was made is enough.

Here's a government leaflet which outlines the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008:
The Office of Fair Trading: Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008

This is the address of the home authority for scientology, due to the CoS registered business address:

Surrey County Council
Trading Standards
Mid Surrey Area Office
Bay Tree Avenue
Kingston Road
Leatherhead
Surrey
KT22 7SY

You can also call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06
Consumer Direct

The OFT website:
The Office of Fair Trading: making markets work well for consumers