What is AFTAL?
The "Autograph Fair Trade Association Limited" (AFTAL) is a non-profit making body run for the benefit of its members and the general public, with a view to ensuring that the members can be relied upon to be trustworthy and duly qualified to perform their respective duties.
AFTAL was created by a group of people who are directly involved in autographs, signed memorabilia and the organisation of related events. All decisions are made at board level, and all members are directly accountable to the board.
Membership of the Association is an endorsement of the members professional competence, and confirms to the public that the member is committed to providing authentic items, with all the required knowledge and diligence that that may demand.
The signed memorabilia market is now a multi-million £ industry, and as a consequence, there are many people that have started to 'create' those items that are most in demand. Much of this non-authentic material is offered on websites, Internet auctions, and through retail outlets around the UK. Although most are easily spotted by an expert, hundreds of fake items are sold to unsuspecting collectors every day. The percentage of fake-signed items on the eBay Internet auction site for example is now estimated at over 85% with up to 500 such items being sold every day.
AFTAL and its members are 100% committed to reporting and working with the authorities to ensure that these sellers are removed from our business, and that the public are made aware of such items and sellers.
All AFTAL approved dealers have been through a very strict approval process, which includes a full discussion on each application for membership at board level. All members will have given AFTAL their full business details, which includes their website details, eBay ID's etc, as the withholding of any relevant information may result in termination of their membership. The board meets for these approval meetings every three months, so from application to approval can take up to 6 months.
Every AFTAL member has signed our Code of Ethics, to confirm that they will always uphold the law, never knowingly sell a forged or stolen item, and will deal with each and every customer in a fair and professional manner. Failure to comply with these aims may result in the member being bought before the board and their membership terminated.
By buying only from AFTAL approved dealers, you are helping to rid the industry of the fakes and forgers.
If your dealer is not an AFTAL member, perhaps you should be asking them why?
