No Cold Calling zone in Burry Port

A NEW No Cold Calling Zone has been set up in Burry Port to offer protection to residents from visits by uninvited traders.

The new zone at Bryn Illtud/Bryn y Mor, Burry Port, was officially opened during the Trading Standards Institute’s (TSI) annual National Consumer Week whose message ‘cold calling – don’t buy it’ is being taken to every community by the Trading Standards service.

It brings the total number of zones throughout Carmarthenshire to 35, along with two Doorstep Protection Zones. They have been proven to make householders feel safer in their own homes.

More than 10,000 complaints are made nationally about cold calling doorstep traders every year, but this is likely to only be the tip of the iceberg –victims are often embarrassed and frightened so many incidents will go unreported.

Householders in Llanelli have been targeted by rogue traders and some have parted with significant sums of money.

House owners in Llanelli have been targeted by traders offering to do house painting, property maintenance such as gutter cleaning, tree felling and pruning.

The No Cold Calling Zones offer protection for residents by making it a criminal offence for uninvited traders to call at the houses within the designated zones.

No Cold Calling Zones started in Carmarthenshire in 2006 and have proved to be a success. They are set up in areas where elderly or vulnerable people live, or where there has been evidence of doorstep crime and problems with cold callers.

The aim of the zones is to protect Carmarthenshire consumers from bogus officials/workers, overbearing sales people and other scams.

The first zone was launched at Maes Elfryn Housing Complex, Llandeilo, in September 2006. Areas covered by Carmarthenshire’s No Cold Calling Zones include communities in Llandeilo, Pembrey, Llandovery, Llansteffan, Tycroes, Felinfoel, Llangunnor, Llanelli, Llwynhendy, Drefach, and Pendine.

All the No Cold Calling Zones have been set up to meet the Office of Fair Trading’s criteria, that is zones are only set up where there is a high proportion of vulnerable residents or evidence of doorstep crime.

An evaluation of the zones showed that 68 per cent stated that they had not received any cold callers since the start of the No Cold Calling Zone, and 90 per cent stated that they had not had a bad experience with a cold caller since the start of the scheme.

Rogue doorstep traders will often offer services at attractive rates and use persuasive sales techniques to encourage people into making hasty decisions. Rogue doorstep trading is an ongoing problem in the UK and work or service carried out can sometimes be unnecessary, of a poor standard, much more expensive than originally quoted or not done at all.

To avoid being scammed by rogue doorstep traders:

• If a trader knocks at your door do not agree to on the spot house repairs, or sign anything on the spot.
• Be wary of special offers or warnings that your house is unsafe. Do not make snap decisions. Take time to talk to someone you trust before you make a decision.

If in doubt, call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 08454 040506 or go to: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/consumer_w/consumer_protection_for_the_consumer_e/consumer_citizens_advice_consumer_service_e/if_you_need_more_help.htm

Executive board member for public protection Cllr Jim Jones said: “Cold calling can be a nuisance to people living in our community, in particular to elderly residents, and can be used by unscrupulous salespeople and bogus callers as an opportunity to commit offences.

“I am delighted that this new zone has been established in Burry Port. We now have 35 No Cold Calling Zones in our county and the evidence is that they are working well.”

Alongside No Cold Calling Zones the Trading Standards Institute is encouraging householders to download a no cold calling ‘super sign’ from www.tradingstandards.gov.uk . It tells cold calling doorstep traders* to go away – those who don’t are committing a criminal offence and consumers should report them to the police or trading standards.

Carmarthenshire County Council also has a Registered Traders Scheme for Handypersons and Gardeners, which was set up following a spate of complaints received by the Trading Standards during 2006 concerning shoddy and overpriced gardening work.

The Handyperson & Gardeners scheme involves traders who can undertake tasks such as lawn mowing and basic do-it-yourself work, in particular for elderly and vulnerable residents, and give them the added reassurance that they are dealing with registered tradesmen.

Applicants are asked to sign up to a contract of membership which requires the trader to follow a number of good practices, including not asking for large deposits in advance and to always provide paperwork to their customers.

A list of members can be obtained from Carmarthenshire County Council on 01267 234567 or from the website – www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk

Caption: Launch of new No Cold Calling Zone at Bryn Illtud/Bryn y Mor, Burry Port.

Pictured at the opening are Cllr Shirley Mathews, Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for public protection Cllr Jim Jones, and Cllr Hugh Shepardson with Trading Standards officers Quita Davies, Kayleigh Phillips and John Elias, Trading Standards Manager Roger Edmunds and Carmarthenshire Head of Public Protection Philip Davies, Pembrokeshire Head of Public Protection Mark Elliot, PCSO Christian Rowlands and local resident David Phillips.

Pic Jeff Connell