21 December 2009

Media release

Trading Standards officials are warning householders to be on guard against companies or individuals who cold call or knock on doors to try and sell their services - especially where home owners or residents are elderly or live alone.
In particular there are widespread complaints about selling practices associated with the supply of burglar alarm systems, where a free or lost cost installation has very substantial maintenance and service costs that have to be paid later.  
SCOTSS chairman Dave Roderick explained:
'Our members in local authorities have received dozens of complaints about doorstep selling practices where people, who are often in elderly or vulnerable groups, are subjected to aggressive or high pressure sales techniques.  Normally the company or individuals involved also neglect to inform consumers of their legal rights to cancellation.'
Two recent cases have highlighted the problems: In October, a 76 year old Clydebank man was provided with an alarm system which, according to the paperwork was free, however he had signed up to pay £3800 for the monitoring and maintenance of the system.  The same month Glasgow Trading Standards received a complaint regarding an alarm fitted in a consumer’s house . When another trader checked the work of the initial installation it was discovered that the free alarm that the consumer had on their premises was actually an empty box.
Mr Roderick continued:
“In these cases, local Trading Standards Officers and the Police had been informed early and full refunds were made.  But we would urge anyone who is cold called to think twice before agreeing to buy anything, and if they have any suspicion that they are being scammed then call their local council Trading Standards service, or alternatively one of the two Scottish Scambusters teams based in Dundee and North Lanarkshire Councils.'

ENDS

For further enquiries, please contact: SCOTSS at coordinator@scotss.org.uk

www.scotss.org.uk


Notes for Editors

1.	SCOTSS is the professional body which represents trading 
standards services in all 32 Scottish local authorities. It 
coordinates fair trading, safety and weights & measures issues 
across the country. As a section of the Trading Standards Institute
its purpose is to promote excellence and enhance the professionalism
of its members in support of informing consumers, encouraging honest
businesses and targeting rogue traders.

2.	Scambuster teams are funded by BIS the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and are hosted by Dundee and North Lanarkshire Councils.
Contact scambusters@northlan.gov.uk or telephone 01698 302857


3.	On 1 October 2008 the ‘Cancellation of Contracts Made in a Consumer’s Home or Place of Work etc Regulations 2008’ (the Regulations) came into force. The Regulations are aimed at traders who enter into a contract with a consumer at their home, workplace or on an excursion arranged by the vendor away from his business premises.

The Regulations extend the law on cooling-off periods and cancellation rights for consumers. They cover contracts that are made during both solicited and unsolicited visits by traders.

4.	Basic advice for consumers considering having work done on their home includes:

•	Get a quotation which states what work will be done, when it will commence and the full price
•	Use traders from your local councils trusted trader scheme if they have one.
•	Make sure you have a full permanent address for the trader.
•	Take the registration number of any vehicle used by the trader.
•	Ask yourself – “is this what I really want at the best price I can get it?”