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Trading Standards professionals are warning
There have been recent reports of residents receiving phone calls asking questions about the type of alarm system that they currently have, and the caller then attempting to arrange for someone from the company to come out and discuss installation. The caller may also try to use scare tactics like advising that house break-ins in the consumer’s area are up and they can provide them with an alarm system that will protect their property, or that their existing system is inadequate and needs replacing. Often the caller will state that the alarm system on offer is ‘free’ but it will often become apparent that there is an expensive maintenance contract that will be sold with it. When the consumer starts to ask questions of the caller, for example an address where the company is based, they are given vague answers and sometimes they will hang up. It also seems that the callers are giving different company names are being given to different people. Consumers have stated that some of the names being used are ‘Crime Research
John Geddes, Fair Trading Team Leader stated, “We would strongly advise people not to give out any personal or house related details to any telephone cold callers. It can be very difficult to verify exactly who is at the other end of the phone and whether or not they are calling on behalf of a genuine company. There have been a number of recent reports of telephone callers attempting to pressure people into signing up for an alarm system and expensive service contract. We would advise anyone who receives this kind of phone call to politely tell the caller that you are not interested and hang up. It would also be a good idea to make elderly relatives and friends aware of this advice”.
For more information contact
Craig Moffat, Fair Trading OfficerTel: 08451 55 55 55 + Ext 44 04 99 Contact Craig Moffat online
By Post: Fife Council, Kingdom House, Kingdom Avenue, Glenrothes, KY7 5LT
