News article
'Cold calling - Don't Buy It!'
TSI's National Consumer Week 2012
This year's National Consumer Week will start on Monday 12 November and run until Friday 16 November, its theme is: 'Cold calling - don't buy it!' Cold calling is very frequently used by businesses both in terms of unsolicited telephone calls and visits. The campaign aims to inform consumers about their rights but also about the danger of letting unknown traders inside their homes. The campaign organised by Trading Standards Institute applicable to all consumers but in particular the elderly and vulnerable people who most often fall victim to cold callers.
Our experience here at the European Consumer Centre for Services shows us that often consumers do not know that they can say 'NO' to businesses cold calling at their home or on the phone.
It is worth pointing out that cold calling is not only used by UK traders. We notice that British consumers, mainly timeshare owners, are being cold called by traders based outside the UK, most often in Spain. Consumers receive phone calls from timeshare resale companies & law firms from Malaga, Marbella or Gran Canarias offering them help in re-selling their timeshare or reclaiming money lost when timeshare companies cease to trade. The majority of the consumers are asked to pay upfront fees in order to cover administrative/tax costs. They are reassured that paying those fees will eventually end up in selling their timeshare. As the consumers are desperate to sell, they quickly decide to pay around £ 1000 with the hope that they will get rid of the burden of their timeshare/holiday club. Unfortunately we notice that most of the owners do not actually succeed in re-selling the timeshare and just loose more money by paying the additional 'fees'. That's when they call us at The European Consumer Centre for Services in order to receive further information and help. We want more consumers to call before they have parted with money and thus be saved the heartache of losing more money
It should be pointed out that there is little demand for timeshares and many many people are looking to sell to ease the costs of maintenance charges or that they are just unable to use the facility any more.
Jane Negus, Executive of The European Consumer Centre for Services says,
'Don't be tempted and persuaded into thinking that the person on the end of the phone has someone definitely lined up to buy your timeshare, particularly if the price they are offering really does seem too good to be true! Take your time; don't agree to anything there and then. Take the details, and then seek advice on what you are being offered. A reputable company will give you time to research them and the offer that they are making and to take an opinion from a third party. Remember companies now must give you a 'cooling off period and no upfront fee should be taken during this time'.
Always seek advice first; don’t sign or pay money there and then. Be safe – Say NO to Cold Callers.
We encourage consumers to be very suspicious in regard to unsolicited telephone calls or visits in general!!!
