A crackdown on cold callers in Canton is set to be expanded it has been confirmed today.
Following the success of an initiative to drive out cold callers in the Broadacres area of Cardiff, the 'no cold calling' zone is set to expand to Lawrenny Avenue and Victoria Park, a source revealed.
The initiative, the first of its kind for Cardiff, increased visibility of warning signs to cold callers and set up a direct hotline to the council's trading standards team for unsure residents.
Canton Councillor Ramesh Patel said he was pleased with the news and felt residents in Canton had more confidence to say 'no' to cold callers. He said:
"In areas with elderly people they can feel intimidated by cold callers so this initiative has given back their confidence to ask them to leave. Certain people in my constituency had told me they had been ripped off by cold callers so it's definitely something to watch out for."
Canvassing by doorstep is in fact not illegal, but rogue trading has become a significant problem – with a rise of complaints to Consumer Direct up 18% from 2008-2009.
Last month a campaign to stop cold callers in Cardiff was launched by the All Wales Doorstep Crime Group with this video and this website.
In November, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) launched a 'Your doorstep, your decision' campaign to raise awareness about rights concerning cold calling.
Research from YouGov showed adults over 55 were losing on average £1100 to rogue traders and nearly half of respondents said they felt intimidated by doorstep sellers. Of those who had lost money to doorstep traders, 41 per cent had to spend additional money to complete or correct the work.
Michele Shambrook from the OFT said:
"Hasty decisions made on the doorstep can sometimes result in agreeing to work that isn't necessary, that turns out to be more expensive than quoted or that's carried out to a poor standard if it's done at all.
"We want people to recognise the warning signs, and to feel confident enough to take appropriate precautions and say no."
The OFT advises residents to be aware of special offers and warnings about the state of your home. Advice is also to take time to consult a family friend or trusted person before agreeing to anything. You can find more advice about what to do and your rights on the Consumer Direct website here.
Has cold calling been a problem in your area? Leave your comments below.
