DON’T do business with cold callers is the clear message from Thurrock Council as it backs National Consumer Week.
“Cold calling – don’t buy it” is the theme of the 2012 campaign organised by the Trading Standards Institute and Thurrock continues to support this particularly through its No Cold Calling Areas (NCCA) scheme.
The scheme is a joint initiative between Thurrock Council’s Trading Standards Team and Essex Police and has been introduced in specific areas, mainly sheltered housing complexes, particularly to protect vulnerable residents.
A total of 28 areas, including 25 sheltered housing complexes, have adopted the NCCA scheme which bans cold calling in these zones. As well as clear road signs marking out the affected areas all residents are given information and support offering them the power and confidence to say no to any doorstep trader and report any that do call.
Thurrock Council Portfolio Holder for Public Protection, Councillor Angie Gaywood said: “Cold callers, both on the doorstep and the phone can be very persuasive, but National Consumer Week provides the ideal opportunity to remind our residents that they can and should say no.
“Our NCCA scheme shows that by educating and empowering our residents to turn away doorstep traders we can help protect them”.
National Consumer Week runs from November 12th and the key messages are:
Never deal with colder callers they could be anyone.
No means no.
If the person on your doorstep or in your house is not leaving when asked they are committing a criminal offence
Advice and help, including reporting cold callers, should be made to the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 08454 040506.
To ensure you are using a genuine trader or business always seek a personal recommendation or use the Buy With Confidence scheme supported by Thurrock Council where all approved businesses are checked and verified by Trading Standards visit
