Slough Borough Council’s trading standards will make protecting the elderly and vulnerable from predatory doorstep callers one of its top priorities for 2009.
Part of the work of trading standards, along with Slough Safer Partnership, is to protect the elderly and vulnerable who have constantly been easy prey to bogus door step callers.
These bogus sales people often convince the Slough elderly and vulnerable they need urgent work carried out on their homes or gardens and even take them to the bank to draw out cash for payment, consequently leaving no trace.
Keith Eaglestone, manager for trading standards at Slough Borough Council, said: “The elderly and vulnerable are at the top of our priority list and we will provide, whenever possible, immediate response to calls concerning doorstep callers who are either demanding money or threatening in their behaviour.
“If the door sellers have not provided the correct paperwork with cancellation rights, the contract is unenforceable and we will insist that they remove their equipment and themselves from the victim’s property.”
Trading standards will also check if the Slough victim’s home has window locks or a front door chain. If not, they will contact the police and Age Concern to see if security devices can be installed.
Trading standards officers will also give talks to Age Concern, the Older People Forum, church meetings, amongst other groups, to talk about the pitfalls of doorstep sellers.
Commissioner for Slough community and leisure, Cllr Shafiq Chaudhry, added: “It is our duty to protect the elderly and vulnerable in our town, and these bogus callers will not be tolerated.
“They must be stopped and trading standards are making it a priority to tackle this problem by giving advice about uninvited door sellers.
“If anyone feels they have become a victim of bogus door sellers, then please call trading standards.”
Every year several million vulnerable people fall victim to mass marketed scams such as bogus lotteries, deceptive prize draws and sweepstakes, fake psychics, get-rich-quick schemes and miracle health cures.
Vulnerable Slough consumers will also be given advice on their rights under the new Cancellation of Contracts Made in a Consumers Home or Place of Work Regulations 2008, which covers contracts made during both solicited and unsolicited visits by traders.
These regulations cover contracts with a total payment of more than £35 and set a cooling off period of a minimum of seven calendar days from the day after the order was placed.
It also requires traders to have their cancellation rights to be clearly and prominently displayed. This is a significant safeguard to residents who receive doorstep callers.
In addition, trading standards will provide a mediation service for the vulnerable if there is a dispute that cannot be resolved between the parties concerned.
For more information or advice, please call 01753 875255.
Slough Borough Council
