Warning about doorstep sellers 7/2/14
Trading Standards Officers at the Comhairle urge people to be on their guard of door-to-door
traders selling generators and power tools in the Western Isles.
There is concern the equipment being sold may be unsafe, and because the origin of
items sold door to door very often is unknown, safety compliance may not be what
it should be.
A spokesperson said: "We do not recommend buying anything from a cold call at the
door.
“The quality of these items is usually poor and cannot always be guaranteed, and,
if there are any problems it may be very hard, if not impossible, to get your money
back as the seller has usually left the islands long before the problem is discovered."
"It is better to avoid getting into such situations in the first place."
"Goods purchased for more than £35 during an uninvited visit by a trader are subject
to a seven day cooling off period and the trader should give a notice detailing these
rights. If no such cancellation notice is given then an offence may have been committed.
However, if the trader is not traceable then enforcing such matters becomes very
difficult."
Residents are asked to report Doorstep sellers to Trading Standards on 01851 822694,
Faire on 01851 701702 or the Police on 101.