Cold Calling Control Zones
In December 2007 Aberdeenshire launched its first "Cold Calling Control Zone" after proposals from consumer protection officials were backed by councillors.
Members of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee agreed to test a pilot scheme in the Reidhaven Street area of Banff.
Consumer protection officers are running the trial in conjunction with Grampian Police to attempt to reduce doorstep crime.
Doorstep crime is crime arising from doorstep callers, bogus workmen, high-pressure salespeople, bogus officials and distraction burglars.
Zones set up in other parts of the UK have reduced doorstep crime considerably and this is expected to be the case in Aberdeenshire.
If the pilot scheme is deemed to be successful further zones could be rolled out across Aberdeenshire.
The main objective of such zones is to raise residents awareness of the pitfalls of dealing with door-step traders and to give them the confidence to say “no” to cold callers.
Each resident in the zone received a window sticker and an information leaflet detailing how to deal with uninvited doorstep traders.
In addition, signs were attached to lampposts to indicate the existence of the zone to potential cold callers.
The knowledge that they will be reported discourages cold callers from calling at homes in the zone.
Problems associated with doorstep selling include poor workmanship, overcharging and high-pressure selling techniques.
There is also a close relationship between bogus trading and distraction burglary, a crime where a falsehood, trick or distraction is used to gain access to a person’s home.
In 2006, 599 complaints about doorstep sellers were made to the national telephone helpline for consumers, Consumer Direct Scotland.
However, it has been estimated that only 10% of victims actually report such incidents.
Embarrassment about having been cheated or concerns that their independence will be taken from them are thought to be the main reasons.
Often it is older or more vulnerable people who are tricked or pressurised into paying large sums of money for shoddy goods or services, or for work that is never carried out.
In one case in Peterhead, an elderly couple were swindled out of £20,000 for roof repairs and the scam was only discovered by a carer.
And in Mintlaw, an elderly woman was forced to a cash point by a salesman to withdraw money.
If you would like to report any instances of cold-calling or you are interested in setting up a Cold Calling Control Zone you can call Aberdeenshire Council Trading Standards on 01467 628323 or email trading.standards@aberdeenshire.gov.ukRecent Prosecutions
A local supermarket in Peterhead was recently convicted of selling fireworks to a 16 year old girl and fined £500.The law states you must be 18 to legally purchase fireworks.The prosecution followed an exercise where a number of premises were visited and attempts were made to purchase age-restricted products.
A local gas fitter was prosecuted under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 and fined £800 for falsely claiming to be a member of CORGI. Any person involved in the installation and repair of gas equipment must be CORGI trained and claiming to be “approved” when a trader is not is a criminal offence.
A house building company who falsely claimed to be a member of the National House Builders Council (NHBC) was prosecuted under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 for making a false statement in the course of a service. The company and two directors were fined a total of £3000.
A market trader who persistently sold counterfeit clothing at local car boot sales was prosecuted under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and had all of the clothing forfeited. The trader was also arrested during the course of the investigation and spent a night in the cells.
Essential Packaging
Trading Standards are currently concentrating their efforts in helping reduce the amount of excess packaging produced in the area. The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003 requires that businesses using packaging when placing their products on the market should ensure the packaging used is the minimum weight and volume necessary.
Officers are highlighting this requirement when conducting routine checks on traders in Aberdeenshire and are on the look out for offending items on the shelves.
If consumers identify any packs they have concerns about they should bring them to the attention of their local Trading Standards Service
