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Introduction
Unwanted visits from sales people continues
to be a major concern for us and the Police. They often
are a source of complaints from consumers who have had
problems with goods and services bought at the door.
Unfortunately they are also the start of instances
of cons, tactics of high pressure selling, harrassment
and cover for distraction burglary.
The three main areas of concern are:
High pressure selling:
Some sales people are paid on sales commission
only and may stay for hours to try to wear you down
offering special reductions if you sign on the spot.
Cowboy builders and maintenance contractors:
Often call door-to-door using a variety of
tactics, pretending major repairs need doing, just in
area with materials left over from a big contract etc.
Distraction burglary and bogus officials:
A particularly worrying variation is the bogus
official who gains entry to a house, with or without
an accomplice and robs the householder whilst they are
'distracted'.
These practices are often aimed at the most vulnerable
in our society; elderly, disabled and housebound, young
single parents and those for whom English is not their
first language.
Research by organisations such as 'Help the Aged' has
shown that the effects on a victim can be devastating.
Please follow the links above to avoid these problems.
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