Shut the door on high pressure selling
High pressure selling is something that we all want to avoid, and whilst it is
quite easy to say 'no'to salespeople that call you on the phone, it is
far harder to say 'no' to people once they are in your home. At
Cambridgeshire County Council's Trading Standards Service we frequently
come across people who have been pressured into having work done or buying
products having been called on out of the blue. It can relate to anything from
tree felling, driveways, roofing and fascias and soffits, to mobility aids,
home alarm systems and beds.
Typical high pressure sales techniques include calling through to their manager for 'the very best price', saying that that price is only available on that day, and overstaying their welcome, all used to put extra pressure on you. We want you to avoid such problems, so below we offer a few tips:
- Where possible, when looking for a trader, go on recommendation from someone you know
- Get three quotes so that you know the price you are paying is reasonable and fair. Always get quotes in writing and make sure they set out what exactly you will receive for that price
- If a trader needs to visit you in your home and you will be alone, see if you can arrange for someone else to be there for extra support in case the trader puts pressure on you.
- If the contract is signed in your home and is for over £35, make sure you are given a 7 days cancellation notice -you will almost certainly be entitled to this in law and means that you can change your mind up to 7 days after signing the agreement.
- If you are given terms and conditions, make sure you read them before signing the contract. Be careful if you are asked to sign something to say that work can start there and then -this will impact on your right to cancel the contract.
- If possible, look for a trader that is a member of a Trade Association as many of these will operate a Code of Practice for their members and some also offer a mediation scheme in case of problems.
- In addition, you can get a free 'We're not buying it'sticker for your front door to discourage salespeople from calling on you at home in the first place. Simply contact Consumer Direct for one of these (details below).
- You can also reduce the number of telephone sales calls you receive by registering with the Telephone Preference Service on 0845 070 0707 or online at www.tpsonline.org.uk.
If you need advice on this or any other consumer issue, contact our partner organisation, Consumer Direct, on 0845 4040506 for free, impartial and confidential advice. Calls cost no more than 4p a minute for BT customers -other networks may vary.
For more information on Trading Standards visit our website www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/consumer