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Trading
Standards to Conduct Survey of Doorstep Sales
TODAY
(Monday 11 November) is the start of National Consumer Week.
This
year the week will centre on consumers rights when buying or hiring goods and
services on their own doorstep.
While
most doorstep sellers simply sell goods to consumers, in recent years there has
been a direct link identified between trades people calling at a people’s
homes and distraction burglary.
Distraction
burglary occurs when a person calling at a door deceives a householder into
letting them into a property, with the intention of stealing. In many instances
the offender can assume the identity of an official (water board, electricity,
gas, or local authority), a sales person or workman (for example a gardener or
property repairer), or even gain entry by feigning illness or pretending to be
family of a neighbour.
According
to official Home Office statistics, the incidences of distraction burglary
reported to the authorities over a one year period in 2001 stand at 19,000.
However it has been suggested that this figure represents a significant
under-estimation of the actual number of distraction burglaries committed. A
recent NOP report indicated that over 320,000 people nationally are targeted
each year by bogus callers. This
figure is 16 times higher than the official statistics. In most instances the
victims are elderly and living alone. Home Office statistics show that the average age of a victim
of distraction burglary to be 78.
Similarly,
older people are also targeted by traders who quote grossly inflated prices for
minor repairs to property or other services such as gardening or repairs to
driveways. Northumberland
County Council Trading Standards Department has recently received
complaints from two members of the public who were charged in the region of £1,000
each for gardening work.
In
order to identify the level of doorstep selling taking place within the County,
Northumberland
Trading Standards officers will be carrying out a random survey of
households during National Consumer Week to ascertain the level of doorstep
sales taking place.
County
Standards Officer Mick King said: “It is
vital that we protect consumers from elements in society who prey on and take
advantage of older people and vulnerable groups.
“This
survey should provide us with valuable information which we can put to good use.
I would urge anyone who receives a questionnaire to complete it and
return it to us in the pre-paid envelope provided.”
Further information is available from:
Nic
Outterside, Press Officer, Northumberland County Council
Tel:
01670 534251
Email:
noutterside@northumberland.gov.uk
See
all our latest news at:
www.northumberland.gov.uk/press