DOORSTEP CRIME UPDATES

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Please note: If you do decide to deal with tradesmen who cold-call uninvited, make sure you obtain full name, address and landline details, ask for identification, and do not let them in the house.

Please be aware that you will have a seven-day cooling off period to change your mind, cancel any purchases you have made over £35, and obtain a refund. Also be aware that the contract will not be enforceable against you unless information about your right to cancel is given in writing.

Please refer any complaints to Lancashire Trading Standards Service, 56-58 Guildhall Street, Preston, Lancs via Consumer Direct tel 08454 040506. If there is any threat or fear of burglary contact the police at once.

Doorstep Crime /Scam Update

30 October 2007

Residents are advised to be wary of a traders selling solar heating systems, who are currently visiting premises in the Ribble Valley and allegedly using hard sales techniques. One complainant claims they stayed for three and a half hours, and tried to charge £10,000, later cut to £6,000.

Secondly, an elderly lady in Preston recently received an unsolicited call from a company trying to sell her a hearing aid and claiming to be calling on behalf of a local hospital. Please warn any elderly relatives or neighbours not to give out personal or financial information in unsolicited phone calls.

In a separate incident, a man in a white van visited a consumer in Rossendale claiming that he was getting rid of carpet off-cuts from recent jobs. He ended up selling her an expensive, poor quality piece that does not fit the room he sold it for. He only left a first name, and a mobile number which does not work.

Finally, information has been received suggesting that upholstered furniture (leather-look two and three piece suites) is being offered for sale door to door in the Lancaster area, by a man driving a plain van and wearing a t-shirt bearing the logo of a major national furniture retailer, which does not sell door-to-door. Although we have so far only received complaints about attempted sales and have not been able to check a sample yet, householders should be aware that Lancashire Trading Standards Service has had problems with such furniture in the past. The UK has strict national laws covering the flammability of such furniture, and such standards may not apply in other countries. If purchasing upholstered furniture always look for both a swing ticket and a permanent label relating to cigarette and match resistance, and do not buy furniture at the door.

16 October 2007

Residents are advised to be wary of a trader in a black and yellow van who has recently cold called elderly residents in the Thornton area, typically charging £450 for a thin half-inch layer of poorly laid tarmac.

There are also four young men who are dropped off by an older man in a 51 registration white van, who have been cold calling in the Walton-le-Dale area offering to rip off gutters and mend roof tiles. The work done is shoddy and one elderly man was charged £2,500.

In a separate incident, two young men in a white van with blue writing on the side have been targeting elderly residents in the Lancaster area offering to cement loose roof tiles. Even when the offer is turned down the men often go onto the roof anyway, demand hundreds of pounds from householders for unagreed work, and threaten to get solicitors involved when payment is refused.

Finally, information has been received suggesting that upholstered furniture (leather-look two and three piece suites) from Eastern Europe has been coming into Lancashire via freight carriers. If such furniture is offered for sale door to door householders should be aware that Lancashire Trading Standards Service has had problems with such furniture in the past. The UK has strict national laws covering the flammability of such furniture, and such standards may not apply in other countries. If purchasing upholstered furniture always look for both a swing ticket and a permanent label relating to cigarette and match resistance, and do not buy furniture at the door.

10 October 2007

Residents are advised to be wary of a trader who has recently cold called residents in the Chorley area, offering to carry out driveway and path repairs using tarmac left-over from a previous job.

On one complaint the trader said he would charge £2 per metre and then tried to demand £20 per metre once the tarmac was laid. No cancellation rights were given and the tarmac was placed unevenly on top of existing coatings, blocking drains and other features.

Doorstep Crime Update- Fascias

21 September 2007

Lancashire Trading Standards Service wishes to warn Lancashire residents about an aggressive driveway/fascia company currently operating in the Warton/Lytham/St Annes area and targeting the vulnerable, and a double glazing salesman operating in the Poulton area who makes appointments by claiming he is phoning to inspect windows on behalf of the government.

The first trader drives a white van and claims to be from a paving company based in Blackpool. One customer was charged over £4000 and when the price increased and he demurred he was threatened and assaulted in front of his wife. The trader also said he would return and break into the house if he did not get his money.

The second caller is attempting to get into houses under false pretences, although we have not heard of any residents who have accepted his story yet.

We strongly advise residents not to deal with any cold callers.

Be aware that when dealing with cold callers there is a seven-day cooling off period to change your mind, cancel any purchases you have made over £35, and obtain a refund. The contract will not be enforceable against you unless information about your right to cancel is given in writing.

6 September 2007

Lancashire Trading Standards and the OFT are warning consumers to watch out for mailings that promise large cash prizes to induce people to buy catalogue jewellery.

The unsolicited mailings, typically sent in their tens of thousands, give recipients the impression that they have won a large cash prize of up to £100,000. The mailings imply that to receive the prize, or to receive it faster, the consumer should make a purchase from a catalogue for items such as simulated diamond earrings, Goldtone necklaces, zirconia rings and money clips. In fact recipients are only being offered the chance to take part in a prize draw and are likely to 'win' nothing or at best only a low value item. The small print in the mailing often explains that consumers can in fact enter the prize draw for free without making an order.

When consumers make purchases from the catalogues, they may be repeatedly targeted with similar prize draw and sweepstake mailings.

Deceptive prize draw and sweepstake mailings cost the UK economy £60million a year, and it is often the vulnerable and elderly who are worst affected.

Consumers should think carefully before responding to unsolicited mailings that appear to claim they have won a prize draw or sweepstake. Don't be tempted to buy jewellery or items you don't really want on the back of promises about a large cash prize win.

For advice call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit the scams area on the OFT website: http://www.oft.gov.uk.

1 September 2007

The Office of Fair Trading has been made aware of a scam involving consumers being telephoned by people, alleging to be from the OFT, asking for personal and financial information including their bank account details, in order for the OFT to reclaim bank charges on their behalf.

These calls are trying to link in to the recent publicity over successful court rulings where banks have had to refund certain charges.

These callers have no connection with the OFT, and their intention is to use the information for identity theft or to run up bills or commit crimes using stolen details. The OFT will never contact consumers asking them for personal bank details.

The OFT is warning consumers not to pass on personal or financial information to cold callers either over the phone or via email, and if they have already done so, to contact their bank as soon as possible and review their credit card and bank account statements to see if there have been any unauthorised transactions.

For advice call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or visit the scams area on the OFT website: http://www.oft.gov.uk.

29 August 2007

Residents in the Park Road area of Leyland are advised to be wary of two men in a white van cold calling at the door and offering to Powerwash drives and pathways. These men are likely to be spreading their operations to other parts of Lancashire in the near future.

The men charge £500 and cash payment is required.

Customers agreeing to deal with cold callers should be aware that they will have a seven-day cooling off period to cancel any work agreed to, or any purchases made over £35, although if the trader has already begun to carry out any job when cancellation occurs, the customer may have to pay for the work carried out so far.

21 August 2007

SCAMS

Residents are advised that Lancashire Trading Standards Service is still receiving complaints about large win notifications received from bogus foreign lottery companies, at the moment the main letter circulating asks the recipient to send money to Lotteria Primetava, Marquez de Urquijua, Madrid to enable the claim to be processed.

In addition there are large numbers of “phishing” emails and letters doing the rounds, requesting bank account details and purporting to be connected to major banks such as Lloyds plc and the Royal Bank of Scotland. Banks will never request such information in unsolicited emails.

A possible variation on this is the man who has been calling door-to-door in Lancashire, telling residents that he can sort out reclaiming bank charges for them, provided they give him their bank account details at the doorstep.

A further type of incident causing concern is the one where a consumer receives a phone call, allegedly from Geneva, Switzerland, using a withheld telephone number where the trader persuades the consumer to buy shares, the money is wired to the US and never seen again.

Another problem is with unsolicited catalogues received from Belgium and Iceland, where cash prizes are offered if goods are purchased, although the goods arrive needless top say the cheques do not.

Any vulnerable individuals should be warned that there is an increasing number of these types of companies out there, that it is impossible to win on a foreign lottery unless you actually participate in one, and that no bona fide lottery would demand up-front fees. Never give out your personal bank details in response to an unsolicited call or mailing, otherwise you are vulnerable to identity theft.

COLD CALLING INCIDENTS

Lancashire Trading Standards Service is currently dealing with complaints regarding various instances of cold-calling aimed at the elderly. These include two young shaven-headed white men in the Accrington area who cold call offering to replace gutters and soffits, claiming that any work will be guaranteed for 12 months, but omitting to give contact details or the required paperwork.

Residents are reminded that there are several Care and Repair agencies in Lancashire, which offer varying services to the elderly or vulnerable, often including approved trader lists, odd job men and advice on grants. Details of your nearest agency can be found by accessing the www.foundations.uk.com website and entering the resident’s postcode.

Please warn any elderly neighbours about these kind of scams. If you do deal with tradesmen who cold-call uninvited, make sure you obtain full name, address and landline details, and ask for identification and references from other customers who have had work carried out by the trader. Also ensure any price you are quoted is fair and genuine by obtaining estimates from other traders, and by ensuring the price to be charged is written down before you agree to the work starting.

16 July 2007

LOTTERY SCAMS

1/ Consumer receives a letter asking them to send £980 to Dr Antonio Lopev at a Spanish address to enable the claim to be processed;

2/ Consumer receives a letter ostensibly from the Australian Federal gaming Commisssion saying that a win is waiting to be transported by carrier but the winner will have to pay £1510 import tax

3/ Consumer receives a letter saying he has won £6,000 on the UK lottery but must send £20 to claim it.

Any vulnerable individuals should be warned that there is an increasing number of these types of companies out there, that it is impossible to win on a foreign lottery unless you actually participate in one, and that no bona fide lottery, such as the El Gordo Spanish National Lottery, would demand up-front fees. And never give out your personal bank details in response to an unsolicited call or mailing, otherwise you are vulnerable to identity theft.

COLD CALLING INCIDENTS

Residents in the Preston, Hyndburn and Lytham areas are advised to be wary of anyone cold calling at the door and offering to carry out roofing, gutters, fascias or gardening work, without offering written cancellation rights.

Lancashire Trading Standards Service is currently dealing with complaints regarding various instances of cold-calling aimed at the elderly. These include:

1/ A trader who drives a red van & offers to paint windows and doors, but does shoddy work when the windows are closed and the consumer is out. He then returns to demand large amounts of cash- on one occasion he demanded £895 from an elderly consumer. (Lytham area).

2/ A trader who repeatedly cold calls on elderly consumers until they agree to him attending to give a quote to have their gutters replaced. He then comes early in the morning to rip down the gutters without agreement and without a prior quote, and asks for exorbitant amounts of cash. The 0800 number he gives does not work. (Preston area)

3/ A trader who took less than 3 hours to replace 2 square feet of felt on an elderly lady’s roof and then tried to make her pay £600 in cash for the job. (Accrington area).

4/ A tall, young trader who says he is selling tea towels as part of his work with the Probation Service, then says he can clean the gutters while there, charges £70 cash for this service but then returns the next day to say the consumer has not paid enough and owes more. Needless to say there is no connection with Probation. (Preston area).

5/ A tall tattooed heavily accented man who offers to do gardening work and then asks for a much larger sum than originally agreed. On one occasion he offered to tidy the front garden for £50, the back garden for £80, with £30 to kill a bramble. He then insisted on £330 cash for the work. On another occasion and with another elderly consumer he charged £350. (Preston area).

Please be aware that you will have a seven-day cooling off period to change your mind and cancel any work you have agreed to, or any purchases you have made over £35, although if the trader has already begun to carry out any job when you cancel, you may have to pay for the work carried out so far.

Also be aware that the contract will not be enforceable against you unless information about your right to cancel is given in writing.