No cold-calling at my home
What are the problems
with doorstep callers?
Unscrupulous traders often target elderly, isolated
householders, generally living alone, and engage them in
conversation with the following pattern:
- They will normally cold-call offering to carry out work for the
householder at low prices and will often start work without
permission, on the basis that they had asked for a quote.
- Once work has begun, the price goes up rapidly and extra work
is claimed to be required in order to complete.
- Traders may be verbally aggressive to pressure householder into
paying or agreeing to work, but tend not to step over the line as
they do not want the Police to be involved.
- They may use confusion tactics over quotes and pricing in order
to make householders doubt what they thought they had agreed.
Mostly nothing committed to writing. They never give out a notice
of cancellation rights. (Any such contract is totally unenforceable
if a notice of cancellation rights has not been given, and the
trader has actually committed criminal offence.)
- They will often escort householders to the bank to make cash
withdrawals.
Types of work often offered in this way:
- driveways;
- roofing and guttering work;
- gardening;
- pressure washing; and
- house maintenance.
Supporting document
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What can I do to avoid being
caught?
Always say "no" to doorstep callers.
- Keep your front and back doors locked at all times.
- If someone comes to your door, observe this code:
- Stop: Are you expecting anybody? Do they have
an appointment?
- Chain: Secure the door bar or chain before
opening the door.
- Check: Ask for and double check the caller's
ID.
- If they offer to do work on your property say "no thanks" and
shut the door.
- Do not keep large sums of money at home.
We want you to say "no" to doorstep callers
because:
- they may pressurise or intimidate you to let them do work;
- you may not really need the work done;
- they may lie about the real cost of the work;
- you may not get what you pay for;
- you could end up paying more than you expected;
- they may lie about their name, address and phone number.
What are we doing about it?
Trading Standards services in the South
East have officers on stand-by to attend 'real time'
incidents relating to cold-calling traders seeking to carry out
work for 'vulnerable' householders.
The Rapid Action Teams (RAT) have two main aims:
- Protection - With the householder's agreement,
Trading Standards Officers will attend and attempt to disrupt the
activities of the trader and ensure that they leave the premises
with no payment (or only an amount that householder wishes to
pay).
- Evidence - Whilst trying to achieve this,
Trading Standards Officers will also be looking for evidence of any
criminal offences under The Consumer Protection From Unfair Trading
Practices Regulation 2008.
How to report incidents
If you know of an incident that is happening now contact
Consumer Direct immediately on 0845 40 40 506.
If you are aware of an incident that has happened in the recent
past, please provide us with those details by contacting the
Consumer Direct phone number above, or complete our online incident report form.
No cold-calling packs - available now on request
Having set up 53 no cold-calling zones over the past few years,
West Sussex Trading Standards has recently developed a new approach
to the problem of unwanted doorstep callers. A new information pack
is available on request which is designed to create no cold-calling
households as opposed to larger zones and more unwieldy areas which
aren't always heeded by cold-callers.
What is the problem?
Doorstep crime from cold-callers who often target older and more
vulnerable residents. Whilst cold-calling is not, in itself,
illegal, it can cause anxiety for householders.
What is cold-calling?
Anyone who knocks at your door uninvited.
What is doorstep crime?
It includes both:
- distraction burglars who trick their way into
your home to steal from you; and
- rogue workmen who offer property maintenance
work you may not really need and which may be overpriced and of
poor quality.
The no cold-calling pack contains the
following:
- A door or window sticker which, when displayed, makes it clear
to anybody calling at an individual property that cold-callers are
not welcome and that the residents within will not deal with them
at the door. Callers who ignore this may be committing an offence
under recently introduced consumer protection legislation.
- A leaflet giving general advice and tips on how to deter
cold-callers and how to deal with them when they do call.
- A flyer giving details of how to find a reputable trader
by way of our Buy with Confidence scheme. All members have
been vetted and approved by West Sussex Trading Standards.
If you would like to request a pack, please phone 01243
642124 or email us at trading.standards@westsussex.gov.uk.
Further useful information on dealing with and deterring
cold-callers is available at Directgov.
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No cold-calling zones
We are not currently setting up any new zones but existing zones
are in the following areas:
Chichester district
- Tozer Way and Riverside
- Royal Close, Chichester
- Flats at Warren in Plainwood Close
- Retirement Cottages at The Willows, Manor Farm Court,
Chichester Road Selsey
- Lavant, Chichester - Lavant Down Road, Gaston Way, Potnore,
Heron Close, St Mary's Close, East View Close, St Roche's Close,
Northside, Springfield Close, St Nicholas Road, Trundle Close, Down
View Close, Churchmead Close, Warbleth Close, Yarbrook, April
Gardens.
Arun district
- Mill Farm Estate, Pagham
- Springfield, Nyetimber, Pagham
- Penfolds Place, Arundel
- Old Rectory Gardens, Felpham and Old Rectory Court, Vicarage
Lane, Felpham
- Pyrford Close, Nyetimber
- Brunswick Close, Felpham
- Mallard Crescent, Bognor Regis
- West Meads and linked roads Bognor Regis
- Meadow Walk and linked roads Bognor Regis
- Downlands Close, Bognor Regis
- Castlereigh Green, Bognor Regis
- Westminster Drive and Linked Roads, Bognor Regis
- Summerley Estate, Felpham
- North Drive, Angmering
- Aldwick Place leading into Wallfield, Shorecroft and Hornbeam
Close, Aldwick Bognor Regis
- Parry Drive, Rustington
Worthing borough
- Singleton Crescent, Singleton Close, Eastergate Close and
Westergate Close, Ferring / Goring
- Fernhurst Drive and Bodiam Avenue, Goring
- Benedict Drive and Benedict Close, East Worthing
Adur district
- Freshfields Close and Field Close, Lancing
Horsham district
- Adur View, Bramber
- Hanover Walk / Bishops House, Storrington (Hanover Housing
Association)
- Eyles Close, Horsham (Saxon Weald Housing Association)
- Bryce Close, Horsham (Saxon Weald Housing Association)
- St Peters Green, Upper Beeding
- Ashby Court, Elm Grove, St John Close, Horsham
Mid-Sussex district
- Whitemans Close, Cuckfield
- Jobes Close, Balcombe
- The Martins, Crawley Down
- Woodlands Close, Crawley Down
Crawley borough
- Gossops Drive, Paddockhurst Road, Crawley
- Burleys Road, Poundhill, Crawley
- Hillcrest Crescent, Crawley
- Oakhill Chase, Pound Hill, Crawley
- Marlow Chase, Pound Hill, Crawley
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