No Cold Calling: Advice for Traders
Blackpool became a No Cold Calling (NCC) Zone during 2008. This is a designated area where the community declare that they no longer wish to accept traders calling at their homes without an appointment. Main routes around Blackpool display signs and stickers, warning traders that they are entering a No Cold Calling Zone. The signs carry the telephone number for Consumer Direct, the national consumer advice line. Any reports to Consumer Direct are immediately forwarded to Blackpool Trading Standards Office.
In 2008, every property in Blackpool was supplied with a NCC pack that included a window sticker and booklet explaining the scheme. It is out opinion that where a resident has chosen to display a sticker, they have made a conscious decision to say
No to unsolicited callers.
NCC Schemes are targeted at rogue itinerant traders who target vulnerable residents with claims that roof work, gardening and tarmacing etc are required or available at a cheap price. Quite often this work is not necessary or completed at over-inflated prices, and of poor quality. However, it is expected within Blackpool that responsible businesses respect residents' wishes and do not inconvenience them by knocking on their door.
NCC Fast Action ResponseAll calls regarding cold callers are assessed and classified into four categories by the team.
- Home Improvements: This type of sales group are monitored closely. Where it is suspected that itinerant or unknown traders are operating in an area, the tea will respond immediately to the area. The traders will be questioned and advised about their sales practices, and where necessary, police checked. Consumers who are having difficulty in dealing with such traders are provided with assistance
- Utility Companies:
Sky and all the major Utility Companies have recently agreed to abide by a Code of Practice not to cold call at hours displaying a sticker.
- Charity Collections: Charities are allowed to cold call, but again must abide by a code of practice.
- Others: MP’s and religious groups are allowed to cold call.
Legal Position There is no legislation at present preventing cold calling specifically. However, there are a number of measures that will be used where necessary to deter businesses from calling at residents homes against their wishes.
The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 The Regulations protect consumers from aggressive commercial practices and have been successfully used by Trading Standards Authorities to tackle traders who ignore resident’s wishes.
The Cancellation of Contracts made in Consumer’s Home or Place of Work etc Regulations 2008 came into force on 1
st October 2008. The regulations make it a criminal offence if you do not provide customers with the correct cooling off rights on your paperwork when contracting with customers at their home or place of work.
Traders reported by consumers are contacted and provided with initial advice. Repeat complaints will trigger further action which may involve prosecution where justified.
For further advice on this subject, please call Shaun McKinney at Trading Standards on 01253 478391