Door Step Selling and No Cold Calling Zones

The Trading Standards Institute launched the "No Cold Calling" initiative in 2005 after research showed that cold callers were a major concern to people.

Setting up such a zone is a warning to cold callers to stay away. Notices to this effect are displayed in the area and they have proved to be effective in deterring potential cold callers. To help local residents deal with persistent callers the trading standards service is providing them with information packs as well as Notice to Callers display cards with the telephone numbers of the police and trading standards on the reverse.

Currently "No Cold Calling Zones" exist at the following locations:

Bromsash Village

Gorsley Village

Linton Village

Loder Drive, Hereford, HR1 1DS

Further details on setting up similar schemes or on the information packs available, can be obtained from Trading Standards.

The Cancellation of Contracts Made in a Consumer's Home or Place of Work Etc Regulations 2008

Under these regulations ALL businesses who sell goods or services away from their normal trading premises must have cancellable contracts with very few exceptions (such as transactions up to £35 and supply of foodstuffs and beverages by regular rounds men). The cooling off period is seven calendar days starting to run from the date of the contract.

The contract must:

• Display prescribed information in a clear and prominent manner and have a detachable notice which can be used by consumers who wish to cancel.
• Consumers may also cancel by electronic means, and cancellation takes place at the time the cancellation notice is posted or the e-mail sent to the named person or business in the contract.

If a consumer wants the work to start immediately he must make a record of this on the contract and the trader must advise that payment will be due for work undertaken before the cancellation period is up if he cancels later. The trader must make a record of this on the cancellation notice.