Doorstoppers
Worrying rise in doorstep conmen
CONMEN are turning up on the doorsteps of the region's elderly and vulnerable people in increasing numbers.
Hartlepool trading standards team said it was becoming extremely worried by the level of calls received from people who have had bad experiences with unwanted callers.
Michael Welsh, the council's principal trading standards officer, said: "We are receiving more and more information about people being confronted on their doorstep by a variety of traders, some of whom are solely there to rip them off. This is particularly the case with vulnerable people, such as the elderly, who are being targeted time after time."
The doorstep callers include:
* Fish sellers who pressurise people into buying large quantities of fish that are often of poor quality.
* Jobbing gardeners who disappear soon after starting the job if paid in advance, or do a poor quality job not worth the money demanded.
* People selling "leather" three-piece suites, who take hundreds of pounds for a poor-quality, non-leather product that may be unsafe.
* Traders selling suede and leather jackets that turn out to be PVC.
* Rogue roofers who charge high prices for poor work.
Mr Welsh said: "People should always be vigilant if approached by any doorstep caller, and should keep the chain on the door.
"You should never be pressurised into agreeing to buy something or have work done, and a bona fide trader will always provide you with a document setting out your rights to cancel the contract.
"At the end of the day, the simplest advice is always the best -if in doubt, keep them out."
* The Northern Echo has been lobbying through its Doorstoppers campaign to crack down on door-to-door salesmen.
9:35am Tuesday 10th October 2006
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