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• PRO

  Phil Voice October 31, 2013 at 8:41am

  I've been thinking about this a little bit Steve.

  There may be some (I'm not totally sure) some implications regarding doorstep selling.

  https://www.gov.uk/doorstep-selling-regulations

  If you sell products and services worth over £35 to a customer on their doorstep, you must let them know in writing they have the right to cancel within 7 days. You must include certain information in the ‘Notice of the Right to Cancel’.

  This applies whether you visit a customer with or without an appointment or agree the sales contract verbally or in writing.

  It includes the sale of products and services to customers at:

  • their home
  • their workplace
  • another individual’s home
  • on an excursion you’ve organised away from your business premises

  You must provide specific information about cancellation in a document called ‘Notice of the Right to Cancel’.

  Notice of the Right to Cancel

  You must give this document to the customer when the contract is made. It must:

  • be either a separate document or in a prominent separate box on the contract with the heading ‘Notice of the Right to Cancel’
  • state that the customer has at least 7 calendar days to cancel the contract
  • have a detachable cancellation form with your contact details that the customer can fill in and return to you

  The 7 days is usually from the date the contract was made. It starts when the customer makes an offer if the offer’s made:

  • during a visit by the trader to the consumer’s home or place of work or someone else’s home
  • during an excursion organised by the trader away from his business premises

  The document must contain:

  • identity of the trader including trading name (if applicable)
  • trader’s reference number, code or other details to enable the contract or offer to be identified
  • statement that the consumer has a right to cancel the contract if they wish and that this right can be exercised by delivering, or sending (including by email) a cancellation notice to the person mentioned in the next paragraph at any time within the period of 7 days starting with the day of receipt of a notice in writing of the right to cancel the contract
  • name and address, (email as well as postal address) of someone the customer can give a cancellation notice
  • statement that notice is considered to be given as soon as it’s sent
  • statement that the consumer can use the cancellation form provided if they wish

  For contracts where work or services start within the 7 days, you must get written authorisation to start. The notice must also state that the customer must pay a reasonable amount for goods or services covered by the contract before any cancellation.
• 

  Benjamin O'Neill October 31, 2013 at 1:40pm

  I think when a customer is in a state of panic they will do anything to get the issue resolved, I have seen many cases of companies jumping to get the business first, unfortunately this world is a dog eat dog case nowadays, although most of us have a code of conduct we use in gaining work, many will drop below it some just for the greed of money some just to feed their families.
• PRO Supplier

  Paving Superstore October 31, 2013 at 1:43pm

  This is a good point. Also, I guess I would be a bit skeptical if a contractor can fit someone in straight away. It smacks of cowboys 'just doing a bit of work down the road'. Most reputable firms wouldn't use this approach, although they may be missing an opportunity.
• PRO

  Gary RK October 31, 2013 at 2:52pm

  Trading standards guidance/advice, particularly if you belong to Buy With Confidence:

  Section : 3.9 You will not cold call at consumers homes : Guidance: Selling Goods and Services in your Customers Home

  In my home location there are also no Cold Calling areas, backed up with Street & door signs supplied by TS & NHW.
• PRO

  Phil Voice October 31, 2013 at 4:46pm

  I guess there are also two ways to look at this.

  If it is a genuine cold call i.e. the contractor doesn't know the home-owner, then there's definately a protocol one should follow.

  However, if I lived locally to someone that Iknew, and I could see was in a pickle with a fallen tree or a blown fence, for example, then I guess there may be a degree of trust that already exists.
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  Steve London Stone November 1, 2013 at 4:33pm

  Interesting replies there. My neighbour was concerned about whether or not the company was reputable and after doing some research found out that they were. When they turned up to do the work they were driving new sign written vehicles and they came across to me as a professional company. They have certainly made a good job of the fence and my neigbour was extremely grateful that they got the job done so quickly.
  On a slightly diferent note, a very well known and respected joinery merchant actually send salesmen walking the streets of London and if they see a house with so much as a skip outside, then they will knock on the door and try to get the builder or even the homeowner to open a credit account
• PRO

  Phil Voice November 1, 2013 at 6:50pm

  I didn't think for a moment that these guys turning up might not be up to scratch Steve.
  I think that some rules/laws are drawn up by over zealous officials who don't use common sense.

  Having said that I know (I was threatened by a doorstep trader in the days after the 1987 storm because he thought I had stolen a job he'd called at the day before) the laws are supposed to protect vulnerable people who might be pressured to part with money that they had not planned.
  
  Steve London Stone said:

  Interesting replies there. My neighbour was concerned about whether or not the company was reputable and after doing some research found out that they were. When they turned up to do the work they were driving new sign written vehicles and they came across to me as a professional company. They have certainly made a good job of the fence and my neigbour was extremely grateful that they got the job done so quickly.
  On a slightly diferent note, a very well known and respected joinery merchant actually send salesmen walking the streets of London and if they see a house with so much as a skip outside, then they will knock on the door and try to get the builder or even the homeowner to open a credit account
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  Stuart Land-Scape.co.uk November 1, 2013 at 10:02pm

  opportunism - the teams would have been on their way to other jobs, but this is a bonus job for the landscaper. simple as that i would say.

  not something i would do