Trading Standards Officers in Wrexham have received several enquiries from householders who report telephone calls out of the blue from a trader offering them a free survey and the chance to buy an intruder alarm at a bargain price. Several have reported being given the impression that the alarms are in someway endorsed by North Wales Police which is unlikely to be true.
They advise householders to:
“Ask yourself, Is the company really able to offer an expensive system so cheaply? Do customers taking advantage of the offer have to sign up for a long term expensive maintenance or monitoring agreement ?”
If you do receive a call, offering a free demonstration please :-
- Remember that you have a seven day cooling off period to give you the chance to compare product and price and to discuss it with someone you trust. Insist on a detailed written quotation.
- Compare the price with that charged by other businesses for a similar product. Insist on using your seven day cooling off period.
- Don’t agree to have any work done inside the seven day period. Your cancellation rights may be reduced if you agree to have work done.
- Don’t pay cash – you can trace a cheque.
- Consider whether you want the product. If you do, use reputable, established companies who you will be able to contact if things go wrong. Ask relatives and friends for recommendations.
- Stay in control – don’t let a doorstep trader decide how you should spend your money.
If you are worried about unsolicited calls or if you would like further advice please contact Consumer Direct Wales 08454 04 05 05 (Welsh) 08454 04 05 06 (English)
