Surrey Police – Say No to Coldcallers
Message from Tandridge District Council, Community Safety:
We are aware of the recent increase in bogus traders and cold callers specifically targeting those most vulnerable in our district. We are in the process of establishing a multi-agency working group to co-ordinate our work on raising awareness with those most hard to reach in the community. The work will focus on those residents not on social media.
In the meantime the police have sent the attached document which some of you might have already seen. If you have the capacity to print it off and share it with residents or to prompt a conversation to ensure they are alerted to this issue it would be appreciated. If you would like a batch printed please let me know and we can arrange for this to be done here at the council.
We will be working with Trading Standards and other professional agencies to co-ordinate the distribution of information leaflets and stickers and other non-social media sources of material to ensure we can protect our residents from frauds and scams both in person and on devices (phone, mobile and computer).
Thank you for your support.
Say ‘NO’ to COLDCALLERS at your front door
> Say NO to Coldcallers – Doorstep Sellers and Bogus Traders
A cold caller is someone knocking on your door who: you do not know or have no arranged appointment with.
NEVER AGREE TO HAVE ANY WORK CARRIED OUT ON THE DOOR STEP!
- Where able, always ensure you use your door safety chain BEFORE opening the door. YOU DON’T HAVE TO ANSWER THE DOOR.
- If you are interested, ask them to call back at a prearranged time so you can arrange for a friend, neighbour or relative to be present.
- If you are unable to arrange support you can telephone Surrey Trading Standards or Surrey Police (101) for advice and ask them to return at a later date.
- It is good practice, should you require any work in your home or garden, to obtain written quotes from several traders to secure a competitive quote. Bogus doorstop traders will often offer a very low quote initially but when the work is underway the cost will dramatically increase and the work will be of a poor standard.
Buy With Confidence
Surrey Trading Standards hold details of companies who have satisfied stringent checks to ensure they are honest and accountable. These companies will offer you a good service at a fair cost. This scheme is called ‘Buy with Confidence’.
- If you have someone at your door who is insisting that work must be carried out or a payment needs to be made and you are not happy to do so, you feel intimidated or threatened, please contact Surrey Police by dialling 999 immediately.
- Remember, if you feel you are being pressured or harassed into accepting work or to hand money over call 999 for help.
- Following any completed work you may think all is well but, alarm bells should start ringing if more and more money is being demanded.
- Do not accept any offer to be driven to your bank or building society to withdraw money for payment of works.
HELP & ADVICE
The following organisations can help you if further advice or support is needed.
Surrey Trading Standards 0808 223 1133
Surrey Police 101 – Non Emergency
999 – Emergency
Tandridge District Council 01883-722000
Age UK (Surrey) 01483 503414
Citizens Advice Bureau 0808 223 1133
Buy with Confidence 01392 383430
Website: www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk
Visit our village Security page for further information.