Advice From
Trading Standards
HOW TO COPE WITH DOORSTEP SELLERS
When you answer the door
Don’t believe all callers are genuine. Check the identity
of the caller by
asking to see an ID card first.
Do I want to buy anything?
‘No thanks’ could be all you want so say. So say
it and shut the door.
Don’t be pressured
Don’t believe scare stories that doorstep sellers tell
you about local crime figures to sell security systems.
Don’t believe builders that tell you your home is in
a dangerous condition.
Don’t believe special ‘today only’ deals.
That is high pressure selling and no deal is ever so good
that it will not be repeated.
A reputable seller will always let you consider an offer
in your own time and will let you look at paperwork.
It is your home they are visiting and your time they are
wasting. If a salesman or saleswoman starts to put pressure
on you ask them to return when you have someone with you.
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Could I get a better deal elsewhere?
Don’t believe that paying cash is easier or cheaper.
If you are interested in the product on offer then shop around
or ask your friends, relatives and people you trust what they
think.
Get some personal recommendations before you buy.
Don’t believe builders that say they have some materials
left over from a job they need to use up. It’s not true.
Genuine tarmac companies don’t have ‘loads left
over’ – it’s not true.
A reputable builder will not need to knock on doors to get
work. Get several quotes for work before you agree work being
done. Trading Standards can provide a standard contract if
you are thinking of having work done on your home. A reputable
builder will be happy to sign this.
Call the Trading Standards advice line on 01473 584358 for
a copy or print one off the website: www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/suffolk
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Can I afford it?
Don’t believe that cash is
cheaper and don’t sign anything on the spot.
Ask to have any paperwork to keep.
Don’t sign anything or pay anything
until you are sure about it. Don’t be taken in
by salesmen or saleswomen offering to call the manager
and do a special deal for you. These can often just
be clever marketing ploys.
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Can I find them again?
Remember that with people who sell from door to door it can
be almost impossible to get your money back if something goes
wrong. Keep details of anything they give you. Ask for paperwork,
receipts and any information you might need to contact them
in the future.
Know your rights
If you did not invite a seller to call and the goods or services
cost more than £35.00 you usually have seven days to
change your mind. (Responding to an advert or a leaflet dropped
through your door counts as inviting the seller to call.)
If you agree to a visit after the seller rings you up or
sends someone round to ask if he or she can visit you still
have the right to cancel within seven days.
The seller is obliged by law to give you written details
of your right to cancel (with some exceptions) this may be
included within the contract or on a separate form. Failure
to do this is a criminal offence and the contract cannot be
enforced against you.
If you cancel the contract, you can get back any deposit
money you have paid. However, if you have already received
certain goods (such as perishable foods) or if certain services
have been carried out, then you will have to pay these despite
cancelling the contract.
If you cancel the contract after goods have already been
supplied to you, you must let the seller collect them. You
are not obliged to return them. You must take reasonable care
of them in the meantime.
If you contact the company yourself and invite them to call
you have no legal right to change your mind and cancel the
contract after agreeing to buy, (ie the same as if you had
made the agreement in trade premises) there are two exceptions
to this:
- Firstly if the contract says so, and secondly if you bought
the goods or services on credit when you usually have a
five-day cancellation period.
- If there is something wrong with the goods or they are
not as described you may have other rights against the seller.
This is a simplified summary of the law and does not deal
with all the exemptions.
If you would like further advice about doorstep sellers or
other shopping problems please contact your local Trading
Standards Service advice line shown.
Suffolk County Council Trading Standards
Department,
St Edmund House, County Hall,
Ipswich, Suffolk. IP4 1LZ
Consumer and Business Advice 01473 584358
www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/suffolk
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FIRE SAFETY
All fire brigades carry out Community Fire Safety work to
reduce incidents within their areas.
This work aims to reduce accidental fires – and the
deaths and injuries that they can cause – through a
combination of education and publicity.
Over the course of a year, around 500 – 600 people
lose their lives to fire and countless more become fire casualties.
Suffolk Firefighters are working to reduce that number by
using their skills to spread the home fire safety messages
to people of all ages and cultures.
The messages are simple and commonsense, and include information
on smoke alarms and their maintenance and the formulation
of an escape plan, which should be practised.
The Community Fire Safety office at Service Headquarters
has information and leaflets that are available by contacting:
01473 588888
Remember – fire kills –
you can prevent it!
- Fit Smoke Alarms in the home.
- Test them frequently.
- Replace battery annually.
- Maintain them regularly.
- Provide an escape plan.
- Practice the plan.
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PLAN SAFE, BE SAFE BUT IF IT HAPPENS
TO YOU – GET OUT, STAY OUT, CALL THE FIRE BRIGADE OUT.
Accidents, of course, do happen; but Suffolk residents can
be reassured that today’s firefighters are highly-trained
in order to deal with every type of incident and will carry
out their tasks in a highly professional manner, using a modern
fleet of vehicles and the latest equipment.
A major concern for the Suffolk Fire Service has been the
upward trend in the use of candles.
They are extremely popular and look attractive but if not
handled correctly can result in a devastating fire. Candles,
like any naked flame have the potential to be extremely dangerous.
The advice is simple. Do not position candles in places such
as window sills where there is a danger that curtains or other
flammable items could catch light. It is vital that candles
are always placed on a stable surface well away from other
objects and should NEVER be left unattended.
There is always the danger that a candle could be knocked
over - therefore it is vital that it is positioned as far
away as possible from surrounding objects that could catch
light. All candles should be fully extinguished after use
and kept well away from pets and children.
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