Good neighbours stop rogue traders

News from our partners Trading Standards Institute (TSI)

National Consumer Week 2014 runs until the end of this week (8 November).

This year’s theme is doorstep crime, with a focus on encouraging friends, neighbours and carers to intervene when they suspect vulnerable neighbours and relatives are, or could become, victims of doorstep crime.

As part of the week, Shropshire residents are being urged to look out for rogue doorstep traders preying on elderly and vulnerable neighbours.

With as many as 170,000 incidents of doorstep crime occurring nationally each year, the National Consumer Week 2014 “Good Neighbours Stop Rogue Traders” campaign encourages neighbours, friends, families and carers to nominate themselves to discourage rogue traders.  These traders often cold call and offer to carry out repairs which are poor quality, unnecessary and charged at extortionate prices, sometimes even driving the victim to the bank to withdraw money or threatening them.

Leon Livermore, TSI Chief Executive, said:

“This campaign gives power back to communities that have been blighted by rogue traders and prevents those most at risk from becoming victims of doorstep crime.”

While public protection officers strive to track down and prosecute rogue traders, community intervention is the first step in preventing detriment caused by doorstep crime.  The campaign highlights the impact community spirit and the goodness of neighbours, friends and relatives can have in making Britain a safer place.  The detriment of doorstep crime reaches beyond financial loss.  It can cause a person’s mental health to deteriorate and in some cases, suffer physical harm.  Neighbours, friends, relatives and carers can nominate themselves to help stop rogue doorstep traders operating in the area by joining a Nominated Neighbour scheme, taking away the trader’s ability to contact the resident directly.

Nominated Neighbours give elderly or vulnerable members of the community a postcard for their door with the nominated neighbour’s address and phone number, informing cold-calling doorstep traders to speak with the nominated neighbour on the resident’s behalf. This prevents direct contact between the vulnerable resident and the trader, reducing the risk of doorstep crime taking place.

The campaign is a partnership between Shropshire Council, TSI, Citizens Advice and the National Trading Standards Board.

To support the campaign collect a Nominated Neighbour postcard, available from Shirehall, all local libraries or by ringing 0345 678 9000.