Shocking behaviour - old folk targeted for door-to-door sales

roy_harper

Unbelievable - energy companies and phone companies are just targeting blocks of old folk for doorstep sales.
It shouldln't be allowed.

clever_username

without outlawing any sort of door-to-door sales activities though i'm not sure what can be done as far as stopping people knocking on doors is concerned. i don't disagree with you that it isn't ethical to be visiting areas where the elderly live to sell things but as long as they aren't breaking the law with illegal selling techniques then the police's hands are tied.

just to clarify i'm not disagreeing with you here just pointing out that it's a difficult thing to police in response to you saying that it shouldn't be allowed.

trisontana

Both Age UK and the Trading Standards Institute are calling for a complete ban of door-to-door selling by energy companies.

marleyboy

I heard this too, I actually thought it had already been passed. It makes me want to send out little signs for everyone over 65 to stick on their doors stating in block capitals "NO COLD CALLERS!!!".

Techhead_2

Its a very difficult area. Should something be banned because some people are liable to be easily led? Then you have to consider the natural desire of people to protect their elderly friends/relatives. And also the natural reaction to think that a relative has been taken advantage of (rather than having made the wrong choice).

My own opinion is that we should all look out for people who are easily swayed. The 'No Cold Caller' sign is a good start.

bargainbetty

From the Met Police website:
Doorstep Crime is the name given to offences committed by people who call door-to-door ‘cold calling’ to sell goods or offer repairs, gardening or other services. At best, the caller may be an unwanted salesperson, at worst a burglar seeking an easy way into the premises or a fraudster seeking to take money or defraud the occupier.
The Doorstep Selling Regulations, which came into force in 2008 apply to most things that are sold door to door and criminal offences are committed by persons who contravene these regulations.
Most companies do not usually engage in ‘Doorstep Selling’. Companies that do, often employ high pressure selling techniques that can be very intimidating for the elderly and vulnerable.
Trading Standards often work with local police and will set up 'No Cold Calling Zones'. These areas have street signs of a similar size to Neighbourhood Watch signs and although they are not enforceable they enable householders to inform potential bogus officials to 'go away'.


If you are having a specific problem in an area, you can approach the Police Safer Neighbourhood Team with details of the area being targeted, and they can help advise locals of how to get rid of them.



Also make formal complaints to the company represented, report to Watchdog etc. My local council has set several of these up, and it doesn't take more than a few words to get the doorsteppers to sling their hooks.

jamespir

if they dont have a sign and are "all there" then i dont see what the problem is as long as there not being missiold anything

trisontana

jamespir wrote: »

if they dont have a sign and are "all there" then i dont see what the problem is as long as there not being missiold anything

But they are being mis-sold things. Just look at any consumer programme on TV and see all the lies being told by energy company reps to get people to switch. To quote that Met Police website:-

Companies that do, often employ high pressure selling techniques that can be very intimidating for the elderly and vulnerable.

hollydays

I think many of them,though not all, are vulnerable precisely because of their age and sometimes declining mental capacity.I know several people in their 80s who are adamant they are all there,and would think they could easily take on salesmen,but cannot.

jamespir

trisontana wrote: »

But they are being mis-sold things. Just look at any consumer programme on TV and see all the lies being told by energy company reps to get people to switch.

the consumer programs always hightlight the bad the good aint intresting

trisontana

jamespir wrote: »

the consumer programs always hightlight the bad the good aint intresting

One mis-sold product to a vulnerable person is one too many. This is why Age UK and the Trading Standards are calling for a complete ban.