Local residents are being warned by the Council to be aware of cold callers offering carpet cleaning services and potentially pressurising them into making an unnecessary and expensive purchase.
The Council’s Trading Standards team is investigating complaints from the public about the practice, in which the trader initially targets consumers with a cold call and tempts them by entering them into prize draw to win £1,000.
The consumer instead wins a free carpet clean at which point the trader attempts to sell them the carpet cleaner.
In some cases the consumer has been charged just under £2,000 for the carpet cleaner, which is often unwanted or unneeded.
Bath & North East Somerset Council is concerned that these visits may be putting unwanted pressure on households to purchase the carpet cleaner.
In some cases salespeople have been in residents’ homes for as long as four hours in order to obtain a sale. Residents are reminded that if they ask a trader to leave their home, they are legally obliged to do so. If the trader does not leave, they will be committing an offence.
Councillor David Dixon (Lib-Dem, Oldfield), Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “Do not be tempted to agree to a visit if you don’t want one, or to buy anything at the first visit. Always take your time to make your decision and often the best way to do this is to think about it the following day.
“Use local firms with good reputations. Ask friends and family for recommendations, or use a Buy With Confidence member – who have been audited by Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Trading Standards and have agreed to trade fairly and honestly.”
If you have been targeted by salespeople in this manner and are concerned or wish to report a potential rogue trader, contact the Citizen’s Advice Consumer Helpline on 08454 04 05 06.
To find a local business, visit the Buy With Confidence website www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk, or telephone 01225 396753.
