Don't Sign Without Reading
the Small Print |
14 Nov 2005 |
Don't sign anything without reading the small print
- that's the message from South Tyneside's Trading Standards
team to Borough residents targeted in a mailshot scam.
Trading Standards workers have received complaints
from people who have had a flyer posted through their
door telling them they have won a free alarm system.
Two or three hours later they are telephoned and asked
if someone can visit them about claiming their prize.
Councillor Michael Clare, Lead Member for Neighbourhood
Services, explained: "They are then asked to sign
a document in order to claim their free alarm system
but in reality they are signing up for a 12-month maintenance
programme for it which will cost them something like
£20 a month.
"The message is, always read the small print.
There are some unscrupulous businesses that may entice
their customers to sign contracts on the basis of winning
a competition. I would urge customers to carefully check
terms and conditions before signing anything, as they
may be agreeing to an ongoing commitment that they do
not want."
Consumers may be entitled to a cancellation period
of seven days if they sign a contract at the door. A
business may commit a criminal offence if it does not
supply cancellation details.
Councillor Clare continued: "Although for many
years Trading Standards has been warning consumers about
scams they may encounter, we are now finding a larger
number of scams aimed at businesses. The Trading Standards
Service is able to advise businesses which feel they
may have been misled."
This warning to consumers has also been issued on the
text message alert service. This service aims to keep
vulnerable adults and their carers up to date with scams
and rogue traders in the borough.
Residents of South Tyneside can sign up by texting
the word "doorstep" to 07786 200 802. This
will cost no more than their standard network rate.
Those that have registered with the service will then
receive up to date alerts from Trading Standards.
Residents and businesses in South Tyneside can contact
Trading Standards on 0191 424 7896 or 0191 424 4402
to seek advice or report rogue traders.
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