Council protects 80 year old from door step crime

24 September 2010

Trading Standards officers in Knowsley have foiled a doorstep crime incident against an 80 year old man.

The man, from Whiston, felt harassed by a trader who cold called at his home on Tuesday this week, offering to relay his driveway.

The resident didn’t want the work to be carried out but wasn’t given a cancellation form by the trader, as required by law. He felt under pressure from the traders, who planned to return to the property the next day to start work.

The resident contacted Trading Standards, who then attended the property the next morning when five men arrived in two transit vans.

The traders were sent away and the council is now investigating the matter.

Cllr Ken Keith, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate and Customer Services, said: “I’m pleased that our officers were able to help this resident and prevent a door step crime incident taking place.

“It is completely unacceptable for traders to harass and pressurise residents on their own door step and we will always act upon information we receive to try and stop it happening.

“We rely on information from our community and this resident did exactly the right thing in drawing our attention to this situation.

”If the elderly or vulnerable need to have work carried out I would encourage them to contact the Trader Approved Scheme Knowsley (T.A.S.K) on 0151 546 6680 and get at least two quotations before agreeing to get any work carried out.  If people are in any doubt, they should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 for advice.”

Mike Harden, Knowsley Council’s Executive Director for Corporate Resources, said: “Our residents should never feel under pressure in their own home to agreeing to work being carried out.

“If they do decide to have work done, they should remember that any traders who cold call at their home must provide paperwork allowing the resident to cancel the agreement.

“You are entitled to a seven day cooling off period in which you can cancel any contract above £35.

“Our officers deserve praise for their proactive behaviour in this case, which has protected a vulnerable resident and prevented a door step crime incident from taking place.”