Trading Standards in Trafford have issued a warning over cold-calling tactics after an elderly man was sold a mattress topper for £2,000.
The man said he received a call from a firm, saying that they had got his number from the Council or the hospital. He believed he was going to be visited by a physiotherapist at his home, only for a salesman to turn up, resulting in him buying the mattress topper.
Trading Standards are now urging people to be wary of any unsolicited emails, phone calls or door-to-door sales, and not to get rushed into buying anything.
Cllr Mike Freeman, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Public Safety, Governance and Reform, said:
Pushy and aggressive selling tactics are a pest at the best of times but they are despicable when vulnerable people are being targeted.
I would like all residents to be aware that the Council would never pass on data to sales companies. If they are suspicious about products being sold to them, I would urge them to contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Services on 0345 4 040506.”
Dr Mark Jarvis, Medical Director at NHS Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said:
Individuals and organisations within the NHS are bound by confidentiality so we would never share people’s details with external or private organisations without their knowledge.
If anyone encounters any suspicious behaviour like this, please report it and it will be investigated.”
If the purchase is made by post, phone, over the internet or at home, there is usually a 14-day cancellation period when products can be returned.
If anyone is being sold something out of the blue, the advice from Trading Standards is not to buy immediately but to think carefully and get advice before making a purchase.
Posted on Monday 13th January 2020