Although most doorstep callers are genuine, there are some people who visit people’s homes with the intention of tricking their way in so they may steal their valuables and belongings. This is known as distraction burglary.
Others may pressurise more vulnerable members of the community to agree to unnecessary repairs on their home, and then charge them obscene amounts for the work.
From 1st October 2008, if you are at home and you pay a doorstep caller over £35 for goods or services:
- You have the right to cancel the agreement within 7 days.
- The caller must give you a written cancellation form explaining your rights. If the caller does not provide cancellation rights he/she is committing a crime and the agreement isn’t valid.
Tackling doorstep crime is a top priority for South Wales Police. We continue to work in partnership with Trading Standards, Age Concern and many more to beat bogus callers, but with your help we can make an even bigger difference.
There are a number of ‘No Cold-Calling Zones’ in South Wales, where people cannot visit designated areas in an attempt to sell goods or services without making an appointment in advance.
To launch a ‘No Cold-Calling’ zone in your area, contact your nearest Trading Standards office.
You could also consider joining your local Neighbourhood Watch scheme. Working with your neighbours to watch out for anything suspicious could help to cut down on crime and protect vulnerable people in your area.
If in Doubt, Keep Them Out
When answering your door to a stranger, be cautious. Follow these simple steps to help keep yourself and your property safe:
- Lock your door when you’re at home
- Don’t answer your front door unless your back door is closed and locked. Thieves sometimes work in pairs, and one may try to distract you at the front door while the other enters your property from the back.
- Put the door bar or chain on and talk to the person through the door, especially if you are not expecting any visitors. If you don’t have a door bar or chain then think about getting one – it’s a worthwhile investment. They come in handy when talking to unexpected callers.
- Ask the person to show you their identification. If they are visiting for a legitimate purpose, they will definitely carry an I.D card from the company they represent. Look at the photograph to make sure it’s a good representation of them, and if you were expecting them, check that the name on the card is the same as the contact given on your appointment letter.
- If you weren’t expecting the caller and are still in doubt about their I.D card, don’t let them in. Instead, phone their company to check their details. Look for the phone number in the phone book rather than calling the number on their card, as it may not be genuine.
- If you need to leave the front door to make a phone call or get your glasses to read the I.D card, close and lock the front door. Never leave it open and unattended.
- Think about keeping a list of useful phone numbers such as your gas, electricity and water suppliers in a handy place. Lots of companies now have free designated phone numbers to help you check the identity of their workers.
- Most gas, water, electricity companies, and some councils have a password system in place, where their representative are expected to tell you a password selected by you when they visit. If you are expecting a visitor, talk to the company to see if you can use this method to check the caller’s identity.
- Don’t let the visitor pressure you or confuse you. A genuine caller won’t mind waiting for you to do the above checks.
If you are not convinced by the identity of the caller, do not let them into your property. Tell them to call back later when you have company, or write to them asking for an appointment at a more convenient time.
For more information and advice, contact your local Crime Reduction Tactical Advisor on the following numbers:
Cardiff: Bob Keohane - 029 2052 7432
Swansea: Tony Pain - 01792 562768
Vale of Glamorgan: Dick Collins – 01446 731627
Bridgend: Deborah Elward - 01656 679558
Neath / Port Talbot: Mary Williams - 01639 889178
Methyr Tydfil: Stephen Cooke - 01685 724267
Rhondda Cynon Taf: Anthony Pitt - 01685 724266
South Wales: Rhiannon Williams – 02920 527447
Mini com helpline for the deaf: 01656 656980