New rights for consumers
I am pleased that Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Trading Standards team is advising residents about new regulations that will help protect them from unscrupulous doorstep callers.
The new regulations mean that people have up to seven days to change their mind about a contract for more than £35 that has been made at home during a visit by a trader. Furthermore, it is a criminal offence if a notice explaining the customer’s rights is not given when the contract is agreed. Customers must give written notice if they wish to cancel the contract.
A spokesman for the Council’s Trading Standards team said: “Of course, there may be times when the trader will try to persuade the consumer to have work done there and then, before the seven days are up. Now work can only start before the cancellation period is over if the consumer gives permission in writing. This is needed even if the work needs to be done straight away, or the consumer wants it done as soon as possible.”
This legislation increases the rights of householder at a time when they are particularly vulnerable to pushy and unscrupulous businesses. While welcoming the extra protection, I would not want people to be complacent. I would always recommend residents to take their time before they agree to anything, and to be particularly cautious when approached by traders who turn up uninvited at their doorstep offering to do work.
The Council has put together a list of businesses that have been vetted and approved through its ‘Buy with Confidence’ scheme, we hope that local people will find this list to be a useful way of finding a reliable trader.
Every year the Council’s Trading Standards team deals with complaints about traders who persuade householders to let them do work which is unnecessary, expensive and poorly done. These rogue traders pay no attention to cancellation periods or rights and disappear as soon as they have conned enough people. The Trading Standards team works closely with the police and other agencies to control “rogue traders”, in particular those who call uninvited at consumers’ homes.
The Council has put together a list of businesses that have been vetted and approved through its “Buy with Confidence” scheme. Further information is available from www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk or by calling Trading Standards 01225 396753.
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