Kislingbury Neighbourhood Watch: Doorstep Selling - Your Rights, and How to Avoid being a Victim of Rogue Selling

Don't be a Victim

Avoid buying or selling any good or services at the door
IF YOU ARE NOT SURE< DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR
Keep your front and back door and all windows LOCKED
Fit a door bar or chain and USE IT
Only Deal with Callers by Appointment
DO NOT trust ID Cards. Never use the phone number on the ID card to verify the identity of the caller
DO NOT keep large sums of money in the house

BEWARE
Doorstep Sellers may use lines like these to get into your home:

"I noticed you've a few loose tiles on your roof ...."
"Congratulations! You've won a prize! If you could just sign here ..."
"There have been a lot of Burglaries round here ...."
"This cut-price special offer is only available if you sign today ...."
"I'm doing a survey ...."

Remember, doorstep sellers can be extremely persuasive. Once you let a doorstep seller into your home, they will expect a sale - and they won't give up easily. IF YOU ARE NOT SURE DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR.

What Can you do?

Obtain at least 3 quotes so you can compare the cost of the work
Look in business directories/magazines for traders contact details and check to see whether they are a member of a trade association
Ask friends, neighbours, or family for recommendations
Ask Traders where they have done work and speak with those customers if possible.

Know your Rights
Cooling off Period

If the goods and/or serives cost more than £35 and the contarct was entered into at your home or workplace (or at another individual's home) then you have a 7 day cooling-off period to cancel the contract.
This 7 day cooling-off period is applicable for contracts resulting from both unsolicited (e.g. when an uninvited trader knocks at your door) and solicited (e.g. when you have asked the trader to call on you) visits.
You can ask the trader to start work within the 7 days cooling-off period, but this request must be in writing and if you then change your mind once the work has begun you will be liable to pay a reasonable sum for the work already carried out.

TRADING STANDARDS ADVICE IS TO USE YOUR 7 DAY COOLING-OFF PERIOD TO CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHETHER YOU NEED TO HAVE THE WORK DONE AND THAT YOU ARE HAPPY WITH THE TRADER THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN.

WE ADVISE THAT YOU DO NOT BUY GOODS OR SERVICES AT THE DOOR.

Your Right to Cancel

The Trader must give you a written notice of your right to cancel the contract whether or not you have a contract in writing. Failure to provide this is a CRIMINAL OFFENCE, the trader cannot enforce the contract against you and you are not under any obligation to pay for any goods and/or services provided.
TRADING STANDARDS ADVICE IS NEVER PAY THE FULL AMOUNT FOR THE CONTRACT UP FRONT. However, if yoy have received your written notice of your right to cancel, have paid a sum of money and then decide to cancel the contract within the 7 day cooling-off period:

if the work has not started, you are entitled to full repayment of the money already paid
If the work has already started, or goods have already been purchased by the Trader, you will be required to pay a reasonable sum for the goods and/or serives provided prior to the cancellation

Monday 19 July 2010

Doorstep Selling - Your Rights, and How to Avoid being a Victim of Rogue Selling