BUYING
AT THE DOOR
What are your rights when you agree to
buy goods from someone who calls to the door?
Many doorstep sellers are honest and genuine. However, some aren’t
- and they may use lines like these in order to get into your home:
"Congratulations! You’ve
won a prize! If you could just sign for it…"
"I noticed you’ve
got a few loose tiles on your roof…"
"There have been a lot
of burglaries in the area recently…"
"This cut-price special
offer is only available if you sign today…"
"I’m doing a survey..."
Most legitimate market researchers
carry an identity card, which you can ask to see. If you’re
in any doubt, call the Market Research Society free on 0500 369999.
And if someone says they work
for a charity, for the Council or for social services, they should
be able to show you proof.
Remember, doorstep sellers
are trained to get people to buy. They can be extremely persuasive.
Once you have let a doorstep
seller into your home, they will be expecting a sale - and they
won’t give up easily.
Here are a few simple do’s
and don’t to help you deal with doorstep sellers
DO
- fix a security chain to
your door, and make sure you sue it every time someone calls.
- if in doubt, just say ‘No
thank you’ and close the door.
- find out the name
and address of the seller’s company.
- ask yourself :
do I want or need this?
can I afford it? could I get it cheaper elsewhere? do I know and
trust the seller?
- ask the seller what will
happen if you change your mind. In most cases, you will have a
seven-day ‘cooling off’ period during which you can
cancel the contract.
- ask for more time if you’re
not sure; a reputable seller will understand.
- pay by credit card for
goods or services costing more than £100. The credit card
company will give you some protection.
- get a receipt with the
name, address and phone number of the company on it
DON’T
- ask a doorstep seller to
call unless you’re sure you want to buy.
- let a caller into your
home if you are at all suspicious of them.
- agree to buy anything until
you’ve checked prices elsewhere.
- let the seller push you
into making a snap decision.
- pay a deposit unless you’re
sure you want to buy.
- agree to have work done
on your home without getting a second opinion.
- let persuasive salesmen
convince you to buy things you don’t need.
- listen to scare stories.
They are usually nonsense
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
- If the goods or services
you buy cost more than £35 and you did not invite the seller
to call, then you generally have 7 days to change your mind and
cancel the contract. Responding to an advertisement in the paper
or a leaflet dropped through your door, counts as inviting the
seller to call.
- if you agree to a visit
after the seller rings you up or sends someone round to ask if
he or she can visit, you still have the right to cancel within
7 days.
- By law, the seller must
give you written details of your right to cancel ( there are exceptions
to this rule). failure to do this is a criminal offence, and the
contract cannot be enforced against you.
The details of the
right to cancel may be set out in the contract, or you may be
given a separate form.
- if
you cancel the contract, you can get back any money you paid.
If you have already received certain goods (eg perishables) or
if certain services have been carried out (eg some home improvements)
then you will have to pay for these, despite having cancelled
the contract).
- if you cancel the contract,
and goods have already been supplied to you, you must let the
seller collect them and look after them in the meantime.
- if you contact a company
yourself, you have no legal right to change your mind and cancel
the contract once you’ve agreed to buy. There are two exceptions;
firstly if the contract says so; secondly, if you bought the goods
or service on credit when you will generally have a five day cancellation
period. However, if something is wrong with the goods, you may
have other rights against the seller.
THINK BEFORE YOU BUY
Always ask yourself would I
have bought this even if a doorstep salesman hadn’t called?
If the answer is no, you need
to think very carefully about your decision.
- do I want it?
- can I afford it?
- will I ever use it?
- is it good value compared
with other similar products or services?
- do I know and trust the
seller
- what will happen if something
goes wrong or I change my mind?
- do I know how to contact
the seller again?
- do I have the right to
cancel?
- is this offer too good
to be true?
Remember you can always say
"I don’t buy from doorstep sellers" and close the
door.
If a doorstep seller refuses
to leave, dial 999 and ask for the police.
If you want to complain about a doorstep trader, contact your local
trading standards department.
You’ll find their address
and telephone number in the phone book under Local Authority.
For more advice on your rights
or on how to deal with a particular problem involving doorstep selling,
contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau.
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