Price:£14.99
Bogus council officials target dale residents
Jun 19, 2008
A TEAM of cold callers targeting residents in Barnard Castle are not on official business from Teesdale District Council, officials have warned.
The council has received several reports of a man and woman going from house to house claiming to be from the district council. They go on to try to persuade residents that they should replace their existing doors and windows with UPVC, saying that new legislation will mean higher council tax bills for people living in properties deemed to be energy inefficient.
The district council has confirmed that it is not carrying out any energy efficiency survey or information work in the area, and has not authorised anyone to use the council’s name.
One resident became suspicious when the caller started trying to persuade her to fit plastic windows and doors on her grade 2 listed home. One of her friends was also approached, again being told that they were from the council.
"We would encourage Teesdale residents not
to do business with cold callers at the door,” says Craig Hudson,
Divisional Manager with Durham County Council Trading Standards. "If
people need work doing on their homes, they should seek recommendations
from family or friends or employ someone belonging to a trade
association or our Registered Trader Scheme. If things go wrong, you
need to know who you have done business with.
"We are concerned about the claims allegedly made by this trader as being from the District Council.
"New
laws which came into force at the end of May to protect consumers from
misleading and aggressive trading practices make it illegal to claim
any connection with or approval of an organisation such as a council
when this is not the case.
"We will be looking into this matter further to establish if there is any evidence of offences being committed."
Companies planning to carry out cold calling sales should notify the local police of their intentions. Residents can check to see if a cold caller has been registered to carry out sales or marketing activity in the area.
“It really is a case of if in doubt, keep them out,” says Acting Detective Inspector, Neil Edgar from South Durham CID. “All official callers should produce their identification, if they do not, entry should be refused. If there is any doubt the official should be asked to remain outside whilst the occupier contacts the official’s employer or organisation. If they are suspicious, residents should try to note the caller’s car number plate and report the incident to the police.”