Business information

Cold caller cooled off in court

A cold caller who failed to provide the necessary paperwork after being hired for a guttering job in Barkway has been successfully prosecuted by Hertfordshire Trading Standards.

John Connors, 48, was temporarily based at Great North Road in Welwyn when he made an unsolicited call to a property in Royston Road.

Trading under Leicestershire-based Proseal, he offered to repair the householders' fascia, soffit and gutters. He called, leaving a telephone number and leaflet and returned three days later to start the work.

He gave no paperwork. He left no receipt for the money paid, but more importantly he did not inform his customers in writing that they were entitled to cancel the contract - they had a right to a cooling off period in which they could change their minds.

The local police community support officer spotted the work being done and called in Trading Standards.

At Stevenage Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 19 September, Connors admitted the offence under the Consumer Protection Regulations 1987. Magistrates imposed a fine of £350 and awarded Hertfordshire Trading Standards £300 towards their costs.

The court made it clear that the maximum penalty of £2,500 reflected the serious nature of the offence and was designed to protect people against being scammed. Magistrates took into account that the customer was satisfied with the work done and Connors' guilty plea.

"John Connors obtained this work by cold-calling a consumer and denying them their cancellation rights. I am delighted that the court did not regard this as simply a technical matter and took it so seriously," said Executive Member for Community Safety and Culture, Keith Emsall.

"Cold callers are on notice that penalties are likely to be significantly higher if there are any aggravating circumstances."

He added: "Cold calling is an unwanted menace. Hertfordshire Trading Standards and Hertfordshire Constabulary are establishing no cold calling areas to protect areas targeted by rogue traders and distraction burglars who prey on the elderly and vulnerable."

If no cancellation notice is given, the consumer does not have to pay for the work done. All traders who make unsolicited calls should be aware of the law.

Hertfordshire Trading Standards will continue to work to protect consumers and advise traders of their legal requirements and what they need to do to comply with the law.

Anyone who has any concerns about a trader operating door-to-door in their area should call the Trading Standards Doorstep Hotline on 08456 044466.