Cold callers are NOT welcome

Nov 28 2011 by Jeff Holmes, Paisley Daily Express

HOUSEHOLDERS are being urged to give cold callers the cold shoulder this festive season.

Trading standards officers at East Renfrewshire Council have teamed up with local community police to produce ‘No Cold Calling’ stickers for residents to display on their doors.

The stickers give households in Barrhead and Neilston the opportunity to send a clear message to all uninvited doorstep traders.

The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 give the householder the opportunity to say ‘no’ to cold caller visits.

And the East Renfrewshire campaign encourages residents to put the sticker in a prominent position at their home.

Residents are also urged to draw any cold caller’s attention to the sticker if they persist on knocking the door.

The caller may commit an offence if they fail to observe a request to leave.

The door stickers are available from libraries, council office receptions and leisure centres.

Inspector Campbell Crawford hopes the joint initiative will give residents the confidence to respond appropriately if a cold caller knocks at their door.

He said: “I would encourage our residents to display their ‘No Cold Calling’ stickers. It’s important for people to remember that it is their doorstep and they have the right to say no to any goods or services being offered.

“Sadly, it’s very often the case that cold callers try to pressurise people into buying a service and it’s important that our residents have the confidence to say no and to ask them to leave.”