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| Issued By West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service |
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| Issued By West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service |
Everybody
and particularly the most vulnerable are at risk from bogus callers and doorstep
rogue traders. Unfortunately, West
Yorkshire residents are no exception. These
problems are well documented and well known to investigation agencies such as
West Yorkshire Trading Standards and West Yorkshire Police.
Throughout
the five districts of West Yorkshire there are many excellent initiatives
underway, helping to educate householders with particular emphasis being placed
on older adults to change to safer patterns of behaviour.
Not
keeping unnecessary sums of money in the house
Using
a door chain at all times
Not
dealing with unexpected “Door Knockers”
One
of the most difficult problems residents face, is knowing who to deal with and
who to avoid. Many organisations do
periodically need to make calls, for example meter readers, representatives from
the utilities and Local Authority Officers.
The
following protocol developed in conjunction with the Leeds Distraction Burglary
Initiative is being promoted nationally by the Trading Standards Institute in
partnership with many of the major utilities, such as PowerGen, NPower, British
Gas, British Telecom and Transco. On
a regional level the protocol is being promoted to each of the five constituent
authorities Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield.
The protocol puts the onus on the caller to take the necessary steps
whether the visit was requested or not to prove to the householder that they are
who they say they are and primarily to put the householder at ease.
National
Doorstep Cold Calling Protocol
Wherever
possible representatives will have previously made appointments.
On the occasions where this is not possible the following procedure will
be observed:
1.
The representative will physically hand their identification card to the
householder and declare their name and organisation. They will request that the householder compares their face
with the photograph on the card and explain that they will not enter until the
householder does so.
2.
The representative will carry a larger identification card for
examination by persons with sight difficulties.
This card will bear print of at least font size 14 with an enlarged
photograph.
3.
The representative will explain the purpose of his/her visit.
4.
The representative will explain that the householder can check their
identification by telephoning their organisation and that they can arrange for
attendance of a third party eg. neighbour if they wish.
5.
The representative will make it clear that they will not enter the house
unless the householder is happy for them to do so.
6.
The representative will always be happy to return at a later pre-arranged
date/time if the householder requests.
7.
The organisation will provide a landline telephone number, preferably
free phone, to facilitate employee bona-fide checks.
This telephone number must be a direct line to a person/people and not
utilise automated call management systems.
Where possible this number should also be listed in the public telephone
directory and other company advertising material.
West
Yorkshire Trading Standards Service has issued all field officers dealing with
members of the public in their homes larger identification badges to ensure that
they know exactly who they are letting into their homes (see example).
Councillor
Graham Clarke, Chairman of the West Yorkshire Trading Standards Committee said,
“The
issue of doorstep rogue traders and bogus callers targeting householders,
particularly those in vulnerable categories, is a disturbing aspect of modern
society. Our officers will be carrying the larger identification badges on all
residential visits, as well as adopting all aspects of the protocol.
We want to make sure that West Yorkshire residents are confident they
know who they are dealing with and more importantly who they let in their homes.
Educating members of the public to ask these type of questions will help
eliminate the problem of bogus officials.”
For
further information please contact:
Mr.
Tony Downham – Principal Trading Standards Officer – 0113 289 8247
Mrs
Linda Davis – Educations and Promotions Officer – Tel. 0113 289 8246
Mr
Graham Hebblethwaite – General Media Contact – Tel. 0113 289 8218
A
photo opportunity with councillors and officers with the large ID Cards will be
held, unless stated otherwise, on Tuesday 12th November as follows:
Leeds
Civic Hall 12.00pm with Councillor Keith Wakefield.
Councillor
David Payne, Kingsgate Centre, Huddersfield at 2.30pm
Councillor
Michael Walls, at Bradford City Hall at 10.30 am
Calderdale
to be confirmed.
Several
Councillors will be available in Wakefield Town Hall, between 1 and 2pm on MONDAY
11 November