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If You Are Not Sure, Don't Open The Door
| Published: 30th June 2009 11:58 |
As the weather improves and more people consider having work done on their homes, Northamptonshire County Council’s trading standards service is reminding people to be on their guard against rogue traders.
Trading standards receive many complaints about doorstep sellers and rogue traders from members of the public and want to promote the message that consumers should avoid buying goods or services on the doorstep.
Doorstep sellers can take various guises; they may be itinerant traders selling a variety of goods or services who will cold call with offers to carry out property or garden maintenance work. Others may pose as officials of local authorities or utility companies to carry out distraction burglaries.
Cabinet member with responsibility for customers and communities, Councillor Andre Gonzalez de Savage said “Trading standards officers often receive complaints about poor or incomplete work carried out, high pressure, intimidating sales tactics, failure to provide written cancellation rights and substantial price increases from the original price quoted for work, with as much as £20,000 being paid for work worth less than £200.
"Our advice is never to agree to work on the doorstep, but if you do need work done to your property, get quotes from two or three reputable traders and compare them. Ask for recommendations from friends or family and always check the trader out thoroughly.
“If you do agree to work on the doorstep, the trader must give you a written notice of your right to cancel the contract (you have seven days to do this) and failure to do this is a criminal offence and you do not need to pay the trader for the work carried out.
“Overall, we always advise that if you’re not sure don’t open the door. Anyone with any concerns should contact trading standards by telephoning Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.”
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