Cheshire West Trading Standards take to the road to stop doorstep crime

Aug 7 2009 Chester Chronicle

CHESHIRE West and Chester Trading Standards will be continuing the fight against doorstep crime…with a little help from their friends.

A new rapid response vehicle – badged with the Cheshire West and Chester Council livery - has been loaned to the authority by Lookers Renault Chester who are members of the Trading Standards Garage Approval Scheme known as Golden Spanner.

The vehicle will be used to respond to cases where unsuspecting residents have been targeted by doorstep sellers and will also help raise public awareness of the potential dangers of buying goods and services on the doorstep.

Rogue traders often call at homes uninvited, pressurising householders into agreeing to have work done to their houses. They will typically ask for cash upfront and are usually adamant to start the work straight away.

Said Lynn Riley, (Executive Member, Area and Community Services ), “The Doorstep Crime response van kindly donated by Lookers Group will help officers to tackle rogue traders and raise awareness throughout communities, especially as this is the time of year when traders visit households unexpectedly and offer their services”

Added Andrew Rees, Consumer Protection & Investigations Team Leader “Householders should never agree to have work done by people who ‘cold call’, no matter how good the deal they promise – If you need work done on your property make sure to get quotes from two or three traders before sealing the deal”

Together with Cheshire police officers, Trading Standards since April, have responded to 40 doorstep crime incidents and will continue the fight to protect more vulnerable householders

If someone has called at your home uninvited and carried out work that you’re unhappy or worried about call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.ŠŠ