2007
With the summer and warmer weather approaching, Consumer Direct is issuing a warning about rogue traders and offering advice on how to deal with cold callers to help stamp out doorstep crime.
19th June 2007
Consumer Direct East Midlands receives a large increase in calls about uninvited doorstep callers over the summer months. Last year, the rise in calls started in May and continued through to October, with the most calls about uninvited doorstep callers received in August and September.
In total, during 2006 Consumer Direct East Midlands received over 5,600 calls about doorstep selling. Complaints to Consumer Direct range from substantial price increases from the original price quoted for property repairs, to poor and incomplete work carried out, shoddy goods, high pressure, intimidating sales tactics and failure to provide written cancellation rights.
From calls to Consumer Direct East Midlands the biggest consumer concerns with doorstep selling are about:
1. tarmaccing and paving
2. fascias
3. general building work
4. roofing
5. double glazing
6. guttering
7. insulation
8. gardening
9. damp proofing
10. motorised scooters
Sara Barry, Consumer Direct East Midlands Manager said:
'This is a problem area, whether it’s rogue traders offering shoddy home improvements or highly persuasive salesmen who cold call. We want to ensure that people don’t get ripped off.'
'Consumer Direct’s advice is never to agree to work on the doorstep but I would urge anyone who is experiencing problems with a trader to call Consumer Direct. Our Advisors are trained to give clear, practical advice and we work closely with Trading Standards on these issues so that they can investigate and offer further help and assistance.'
Consumer Direct has this advice:
• Don’t be persuaded to buy after being cold called on the doorstep.
• If you do need work carried out on your property make sure you get quotes from two or three reputable traders and compare them.
• Ask for recommendations from friends or family and make sure you check the trader out thoroughly.
• Be wary of traders who only provide a mobile phone number and do not give landline telephone numbers in adverts or flyers. Also look out for traders who do not give the proper name of the business and a full address. It can be difficult to track them down if you need to contact them again.
If you need help to resolve a problem with a trader, or want to report a rogue trader call Consumer Direct. People can also contact Consumer Direct for advice before employing a trader to minimise the risk of things going wrong.
For clear, practical advice call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.
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MEDIA enquiries:
Georgina Barton
Tel: 01522 535792
Mobile: 07768 840239
Email: georgina.barton@consumerdirect-eastmidlands.gov.uk
NOTES
1. Consumer Direct is a telephone and online consumer advice service funded by government and managed by the Office of Fair Trading. It operates in partnership with Local Authority Trading Standards Services to offer consumers clear, practical and impartial advice and information.
2. Consumer Direct has around 350 trained advisers in 11 contact centres across England, Wales and Scotland.
3. The information and advice helpline is available on a single national telephone number - 08454 04 05 06 from 0800 – 1830 Monday to Friday, and 0900 – 1300 Saturday, excluding bank holidays and public holidays.
4. A Welsh-speaking Consumer Direct service is available on 08454 04 05 05. Minicom users should call 08451 28 13 84.
5. Calls to the Consumer Direct 08454 numbers are charged at no more than four pence per minute from a BT landline. Call charges from other landline providers or mobile phones may vary. Please check the rate with your phone service provider.
6. Northern Ireland has its own service called ConsumerLine (available on 08456 00 62 62) which is similar to Consumer Direct. Visit the ConsumerLine website.
