Close the door on cold calls
A NATIONAL campaign to protect residents from doorstep traders has received borough support.
National Consumer Week was launched on Monday with the aim of closing the door on cold calling and protecting vulnerable residents in their own home.
The campaign, Cold calling – don’t buy it, urges residents to have the confidence to say ‘no’ to cold calling, while businesses are advised that not leaving when asked to is a criminal offence.
Officers from North Tyneside Council’s trading standards team are supplying stickers, which can be displayed on the front door of a home, reflecting the messages and asking traders not to call.
Alan Burnett, principal trading standards officer, said: “Recently, there have been a number of cold calling scams in the area offering to carry out various home improvements including roofing, guttering and insulation work, which is often unnecessary, very shoddy and overpriced.
“We are asking people to take extra care, not only with doorstep callers but also with too-good-to-be-true deals that appear through the post, over email or by phone.
“There is only one way residents can really stay safe from rogues in their own homes, and that is by saying ‘no’ to cold calling doorstep traders.”
For more information about the campaign contact the council’s trading standards team on (0191) 643 6628.
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Weather for Whitley Bay
Sunday 19 May 2013
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