Trading Standards officers in Sefton are backing a national campaign which highlights rogue doorstep traders offering winter home improvement services.
The Office of Fair Trading and Age UK have joined forces to warn people, particularly those in later life, the vulnerable and their friends and family, of the problem as winter approaches.
The awareness drive highlights the financial risks of being scammed and the emotional toll it can take. It is being supported by resident agony aunt at ITV's 'This Morning', Denise Robertson. She said: "I receive many letters from people who have been swindled by illegitimate doorstep handymen.
"They often feel too embarrassed to talk about it, even with their closest family and friends. I hope that by bringing this issue into the open, people will feel more comfortable to talk about it and also more confident, if they are approached, to say no or ask for time to consider, rather than agree to work on the spot."
While canvassing on the doorstep is not illegal and there are many legitimate businesses selling to people in the home, rogue doorstep trading is an ongoing problem in the UK.
Last year, advice service Consumer Direct received more than 5,300 complaints about traders offering home maintenance work on the doorstep, a 16 per cent rise from the previous year.
Sefton Council Trading Standards manager, Andrew Naisbitt, said: "Only in the past couple of weeks we have had complaints from residents in relation to callers turning up on the doorstep offering services. Some residents have also been contacted over the phone.
"These have been in relation to roofing repairs and selling alarm systems, the type of services people consider as winter approaches.
"Work or service carried out by these traders is sometimes unnecessary, of a poor standard, much more expensive than originally quoted or not done at all. Our advice is to try and ignore such sellers.
"If in doubt, call Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 or visit ww.consumerdirect.gov.uk/doorstepselling."
Advice for residents:
* If a trader knocks at your door do not agree to on-the-spot house repairs, or sign anything on the spot.
* Be wary of special offers or warnings that your house is unsafe.
* Do not make snap decisions. Take time to talk to someone you trust before you make a decision.
"canvassing on the doorstep is not illegal and there are many legitimate businesses selling to people in the home"
ReplyDeletePerhaps the council jobsworths who've come up with all this bull about 'rogue traders' need reminding about this, along with a little reminder that if it weren't for people who sell goods and services that people are prepared to buy voluntarily, there might not be the money for so many pseudo jobs at the council.
"Rouge traders"?? Is Cambridge Ward being plagued by Avon ladies?
ReplyDelete