Information on Loughborough
News Index
2012
Feb 2012Jan 2012
2011
Dec 2011Nov 2011
Oct 2011
Sep 2011
Aug 2011
Jul 2011
Jun 2011
May 2011
Apr 2011
Mar 2011
Feb 2011
Jan 2011
2010
Dec 2010Nov 2010
Oct 2010
Sep 2010
Aug 2010
Jul 2010
Jun 2010
May 2010
Apr 2010
Mar 2010
Feb 2010
Jan 2010
2009
Dec 2009Nov 2009
Oct 2009
Sep 2009
Aug 2009
Jul 2009
Jun 2009
May 2009
Apr 2009
Mar 2009
Feb 2009
Jan 2009
2008
Dec 2008Nov 2008
Oct 2008
Sep 2008
Aug 2008
Jul 2008
Jun 2008
May 2008
Apr 2008
Mar 2008
Feb 2008
Jan 2008
2007
Dec 2007Nov 2007
Oct 2007
Sep 2007
Aug 2007
Jul 2007
Jun 2007
May 2007
DONT LET COLD CALLERS LEAVE YOU HOT UNDER THE COLLAR
Posted on 16/04/2008
P. Klein
The tactics used by some telephone cold callers can sometimes leave you bewildered or pressured into buying things you neither want or need, but there are ways to get the upper hand, advises Consumer Direct East Midlands.
Last year, the government advice service received over 1,000 complaints in the East Midlands about unsolicited telephone sales calls, with a total of 15,000 nationally. The highest number concerned mobile phone contract sales, but the service also received complaints about timeshare, insurance, double glazing and home improvement sellers.
Sara Barry, Manager for Consumer Direct East Midlands said: “Cold calling isnt against the law, but callers can sometimes ring at the most inconvenient times and if youre caught out you can agree to things you later regret. The good news is that you often have cancellation rights so its worth checking where you stand.”
Consumer Direct East Midlands has put together the following list of tips for dealing with telephone sales calls:
• If you want to reduce the number of cold calls that you receive, consider registering with the Telephone Preference Service by calling 0845 070 0707 or visiting the website at www.tpsonline.org.uk
• Be wary of agreeing to contracts over the phone. If you are interested in the offer, ask for details to be sent to you so you can consider them in your own time.
• If you dont know who youre dealing with, never divulge any financial or personal details.
• If you do agree to a contract, make sure you keep a record of who you are dealing with and how to get hold of them. Ask for a name, phone number, address and written confirmation.
• If you agree to a contract you later regret, you will generally have seven days after you receive written confirmation to cancel. If you dont receive this confirmation in writing, you may have up to three months.
For further information on your rights call Consumer Direct East Midlands on 08454 04 05 06 or visit www.consumerdirect.gov.uk
Further Information
• Number of calls to Consumer Direct East Midlands about unsolicited telephone sales calls in 2007 by county:
Derbyshire - 241
Leicestershire & Rutland – 202
Lincolnshire – 204
Northamptonshire – 145
Nottinghamshire – 228
• Consumer Direct is a telephone and online consumer advice service funded by government and managed by the Office of Fair Trading. It operates in partnership with Local Authority Trading Standards Services to offer consumers clear, practical and impartial advice and information.
• Consumer Direct has around 350 trained advisors in 11 contact centres across England, Wales and Scotland.
• The information and advice helpline is available on a single national telephone number - 08454 04 05 06 from 0800 – 1830 Monday to Friday, and 0900 – 1300 Saturday, excluding bank holidays and public holidays.
• A Welsh-speaking Consumer Direct service is available on 08454 04 05 05. Minicom users should call 08451 28 13 84.
• Calls to the Consumer Direct 0845 numbers are charged at no more than four pence per minute from a BT landline. Call charges from other landline providers or mobile phones may vary. Please check the rate with your phone service provider.
• Northern Ireland has its own service called ConsumerLine (available on 08456 00 62 62) which is similar to Consumer Direct.