City of York Council's trading standards team has received a spate of calls from residents who are concerned at the unscrupulous selling techniques employed by a firm selling security systems.

The firm, which appears to be targeting mainly older and vulnerable people in York, makes an initial telephone call asking recipients if they are aware of the high rate of burglaries in their area and warning of the dangers of leaving their home unprotected. The salesperson then offers to carry out a 'security survey' that very day. If the caller agrees to the home visit, attempts are then made to sell an expensive security system. In some cases, workmen call back within hours to install the system.

Elizabeth Levett, the council's trading standards manager, said, "Residents should be aware that anyone who phones them or calls them without invitation should be treated with extreme caution.

"There is legislation in place which requires traders who make unsolicited visits to people's home to give a 'cooling off' period of seven days. However, some traders flout the legislation and if people allow traders to install equipment in their homes during the cancellation period it can be very difficult to recover any money paid.

'We are very concerned that this firm appears to have a very cavalier attitude to consumer rights and as such many residents may be persuaded to buy expensive systems they do not want and cannot afford. I would urge residents to be on their guard."

ENDS

Note for Editors: The Consumer Protection (Cancellation of Contracts Concluded Away from Business Premises) Regulations 1987 requires uninvited traders to give customers written notice of their rights to cancel a deal and makes it an offence for them to fail to do so.