Successful prosecution of rogue doorstep salesmen
Shropshire Council’s public protection service is reminding consumers to be on their guard when approached at their homes by doorstep salesmen, following the successful prosecution last month of a Dudley-based home alarm company and its rogue salesmen.
Kevin Powell (34), Director of Security Hub Home Zone Ltd, along with company salesmen, Michael O’Reilly (54, of Kidderminster) and Martin Kennedy (61, of Northfield) have received suspended sentences by Peterborough Crown Court following a joint case put together by Shropshire Council’s public protection service and Cambridgeshire County Council trading standards service.
In addition Powell and O’Reilly have to complete 180 hours of community service and the company has been fined a total of £52,500, with an order for some of the victims to receive compensation for their alarming experience.
The individuals and company pleaded guilty to a range of offences under Consumer Protection Regulations regarding misleading and unfair sales practices. The company, which operates nationally, sells alarm systems through a process of cold calling and follow-up doorstep sales.
The case involved a significant number of victims including four Shropshire residents who were visited by the company salesmen. In one of these cases the high pressure sales techniques also resulted in the removal of a perfectly good alarm which had only been installed a year earlier.
Judge Murphy described the conduct of all three defendants an “absolute disgrace” and stated they “caused considerable emotional distress”.
Grant Tunnadine, investigation team manger for Shropshire Council’s public protection service said:
“This is an excellent result for all the victims following what’s been a lengthy investigation. It is another good example of public protection officers working in partnership with another council to uncover the full extent of the criminal activity being undertaken. The practices of this company, its director and its salesmen have caused untold stress to their often elderly and vulnerable customers.
“I hope this will send a clear message to any business that preys on our elderly and vulnerable residents that misleading and aggressive sales practices will not be tolerated in our county. We will use all the powers at our disposal including working with other local authorities and agencies to bring rogue businesses to justice.”
Councillor Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for public protection added:
“As ever, our advice to residents and businesses is to be careful when dealing with traders who cold call at their home or place of work. Anyone who requires work undertaking in their home irrespective of how small it may seem should carry out research into who they allow to do this work for them. In carrying out this research we would always advise consumers to consider traders who belong to the Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Trader Register – www.traderregister.org”.
Consumers who have concerns about any product or service where they feel they have been misled or defrauded in any way should contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 08454 04 05 06 with whom Shropshire Council works in partnership.
Shropshire-based traders who wish to seek further advice on their consumer protection legal obligations can do so by contacting public protection’s business support & locality working team on 0345 678 9000.
General business advice and support can be found on the council’s website at http://shropshire.gov.uk/business/. Information can be given anonymously and will always be treated in line with the council’s information governance policies.
