HAVE YOUR SAY: Should laws on cold callers be changed?

9:00am Sunday 25th November 2012 in News

The government wants to scrap rules on street trading and door-to-door selling in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Ministers say scrapping the "archaic" Pedlars Act of 1871 and reforming laws on static street traders will help entrepreneurs and small traders who can't afford business premises.

But the Local Government Association says it will lead to a rise on bogus cold callers who prey on the elderly and vulnerable.

The Peddlar's Act means sellers must have a certificate and prove they are of "good character" before they can sell door-to-door.

Changing to street trading laws would see councils lose their powers to refuse an application on the grounds there are already enough traders and shops in a particular area.

What do you think? Would you buy from a door-to-door seller or would you assume it was a scam? Should the law be relaxed? Let us know in the comments below.

Comments(26)

Was Charlie says...
9:34am Sun 25 Nov 12

I don't even discuss anything with a cold caller.
......
If I need something, I do my research on suppliers before making a decision and deal with someone who has apermanent address and telephone number - you've got no idea who someone is when they knock at the door and therefore have no redress when things go wrong.
.......
Appalling idea to deregulate.

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Afcbpete says...
9:37am Sun 25 Nov 12

It's a difficult one this, because on the one hand I think people selling via a catalogue through the door(and yes, I've been there, done that in my past) are in some small way offering a service to the elderly and others. However, you then have those who con people old or otherwise, and there are far too many out there ready to take advantage. I'm not convinced a Certificate will make much difference, although some sort of policing is needed. There are plenty of reputable people doing an honest job, trying to build a business, it's always the few that are the problem.

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Tripod says...
9:38am Sun 25 Nov 12

A few weeks back I was working from Home because I had something I needed to concentrate on, Monday I had 3 cold callers,Tuesday I had 2, Wednesday it was back to 3, for the rest of the week I disconnected the door bell; Personally I think all cold-calling should be an offence, preferably punishable by some form of slow Death!

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Forest_Nymph says...
9:40am Sun 25 Nov 12

Was Charlie wrote:
I don't even discuss anything with a cold caller.
......
If I need something, I do my research on suppliers before making a decision and deal with someone who has apermanent address and telephone number - you've got no idea who someone is when they knock at the door and therefore have no redress when things go wrong.
.......
Appalling idea to deregulate.
Same here. I never buy from door stop sellers, no matter *what* they are selling.

It is bad enough that we get every mobile phone company knocking our doors every day of the week, not to mention the God Squad .....

If I want to buy something I know where to go thank you! Bring it to my door and all you will get is the door closed in your face .....

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Jim_Springbourne says...
9:54am Sun 25 Nov 12

Sounds like a "Spiv's Charter" to me. The Pedlars Act may be archaic, but it is there for a good reason.

I never ever buy goods and services from cold callers. Thanks to trueCall, I don't get cold callers on the phone any more but still get them at my door despite a clear notice saying "no cold callers".

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boyerboy says...
10:15am Sun 25 Nov 12

We might as well throw open the doors and invite all the rogue traders in.....this would be an invitation to all the law breakers and rule benders to try their luck, Councils will have insufficient resources to pursue complaints and prosecutions, far better idea to remove some of our elf and safety regulations- they are stifling UK plc.

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Kernow2008 says...
10:16am Sun 25 Nov 12

Electrify the bell push,that normally keeps them at bay.

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saynomore says...
10:26am Sun 25 Nov 12

It should be legal to shoot double glazing salesmen who constantly call when they can see that you already have your house double glazed with new soffits and facias,they seem to be very short sighted or stupid,i will plump for the latter.

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frarog says...
10:32am Sun 25 Nov 12

Was Charlie wrote:
I don't even discuss anything with a cold caller.
......
If I need something, I do my research on suppliers before making a decision and deal with someone who has apermanent address and telephone number - you've got no idea who someone is when they knock at the door and therefore have no redress when things go wrong.
.......
Appalling idea to deregulate.
Me too!

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brungo says...
11:27am Sun 25 Nov 12

i'm absolutely appalled that this is even being considered. i'm a support worker for the elderly & can say without a doubt that most distraction thefts are via 'cold callers'. it's all very well saying 'i'd do this' or 'i'd do that' to cold callers but we are talking about the most vulverable members of our society here. unless you have regular contact with an elderly person who is living alone & vulnerable, you can't imagine having issues such as very poor memory, confusion, no speed of thought, total trust in what anyone says & not having anyone else in life to ask advice about it at the time the bang on the door occurs. many people in this situation are virtually helpless & some cold callers know this very well. i (& all my colleagues at the charity) actually feel cold calling should be unlawful as it would cut distraction thefts hugely. we see at first hand the effects these issues can have every day & it often leads to the client's health & wellbeing declining alarmingly. i have no issues with posting a flyer through the door though, as long as it is a disposable type & not one that says a caller will return for it. as for the argument about catalogues like 'B*ttaware' etc offering a service to people who can't get out & about? well that is just ridiculous because a person needs a great deal more than just the items for sale in these catalogues to live a daily life. can i suggest anyone who has concerns about an elderly person just ring a local older persons charity as there are so many free services available.

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Turtlebay says...
11:37am Sun 25 Nov 12

So why doesn't 'someone' ask David Cameron, via his public Twitter account, why it's a good idea?

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Derf says...
11:39am Sun 25 Nov 12

Put a note on your gate stating that you revoke any implied access rights to anyone selling stuff, they are then trespassing and you can 'such force as is appropriate to remove them from your property'

Alternatively, have a word with your local police community team and the council and have your street turned into a 'no cold calling zone'

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hamworthygirl says...
11:58am Sun 25 Nov 12

I have a sign on my front door clearly visible and stating no cold callers it also says its illegal to ignore it. Guess what! people still knock and I get really cross and slam the door on them. If they change the laws I can see my baseball bat will be positioned ready by the door to frighten any callers who dare to knock.

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The Renegade Master says...
12:04pm Sun 25 Nov 12

If the new laws also state that street traders will be prosecuted and fined up to £5000 for ignoring clear signs on household gates/doors saying no cold callers (which should be provided free of charge) then I suppose reforming the law is ok. Unfortunately I just think we will see an increase in crime if it happens.

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charlie2004 says...
12:54pm Sun 25 Nov 12

Derf wrote:
Put a note on your gate stating that you revoke any implied access rights to anyone selling stuff, they are then trespassing and you can 'such force as is appropriate to remove them from your property'

Alternatively, have a word with your local police community team and the council and have your street turned into a 'no cold calling zone'
They're a waste of time. We have signs at both ends of the street and they still continue to ring the bell constantly.

Agree about the double glazing sales people I also think they are all blind..

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Letcommonsenseprevail says...
2:10pm Sun 25 Nov 12

I play a great game with cold callers - when they call I ask them to hold on a second then simply put the handset down (preferably near the telly) and then leave the phone to see how long they hang on for. My record so far is 5 minutes and 45 seconds. I love it. But yes, the law should be changed. Should be able to stab their eyes out if they CALL YOU AT 8 O'CLOCK ON A SUNDAY NIGHT the intrusive b******s.

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Letcommonsenseprevail says...
2:11pm Sun 25 Nov 12

Turtlebay wrote:
So why doesn't 'someone' ask David Cameron, via his public Twitter account, why it's a good idea?
You don't actually think that's him do you? Don't you think he's probably a bit busy to waste his life with twatter?

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Ebb Tide says...
3:49pm Sun 25 Nov 12

Letcommonsenseprevai
l wrote:
Turtlebay wrote:
So why doesn't 'someone' ask David Cameron, via his public Twitter account, why it's a good idea?
You don't actually think that's him do you? Don't you think he's probably a bit busy to waste his life with twatter?
Irrespective of how busy he is (or is perceived to be) who else can explain the reason that such a ridiculous idea was allowed into the public arena.

It is us that are too busy to deal with 'cold callers'. We do need time to be able to earn our taxable incomes to try to keep our nation afloat in these difficult times - always assuming we have been allowed to keep our jobs, because they have not been computerised, reconfigured out of sight or exported.

The point about 'distraction burglaries'
is not to be forgotten either.

Perhaps our forebears knew a thing or three !!

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Azphreal says...
4:42pm Sun 25 Nov 12

How much will councils lose in payments from markets? Who will make sure that the streets are passable? This is a big mistake.

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Was Charlie says...
6:04pm Sun 25 Nov 12

Letcommonsenseprevai
l wrote:
I play a great game with cold callers - when they call I ask them to hold on a second then simply put the handset down (preferably near the telly) and then leave the phone to see how long they hang on for. My record so far is 5 minutes and 45 seconds. I love it. But yes, the law should be changed. Should be able to stab their eyes out if they CALL YOU AT 8 O'CLOCK ON A SUNDAY NIGHT the intrusive b******s.
Telephone cold callers are not what's at issue here - it's easy to put the phone down.
......
It's those who call at your front door that this is all about.

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AnastasiaB says...
8:22pm Sun 25 Nov 12

Cold Callers should be stopped all together. They always receive a welcome from me THE DOOR SLAMMED IN THEIR FACE especially as there is a sign saying no cold callers.

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Arjay says...
8:56pm Sun 25 Nov 12

Some days (but only some days) I actually feel sorry for some of the cold callers.
Soul destroying job - but at least they're having a go, and not just sitting on their backsides and claiming benefits!
However, if they ignore my polite 'no thank you', and insist on carrying on, then a loud "WHICH PART OF THE PHRASE 'NO THANK YOU' DO YOU HAVE TROUBLE UNDERSTANDING?" usually does the trick......

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s-pb2 says...
12:41am Mon 26 Nov 12

In over 10 years living in a flat in Boscombe I have never had a cold caller. Cant think why!!

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Tango Charlie says...
11:37am Mon 26 Nov 12

http://www.myspace.c
om/video/some-blue-d
evil/telemarketer-pr
ank-cold-call-very-f
unny/16733006

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Letcommonsenseprevail says...
8:26pm Mon 26 Nov 12

Was Charlie wrote:
Letcommonsenseprevai

l wrote:
I play a great game with cold callers - when they call I ask them to hold on a second then simply put the handset down (preferably near the telly) and then leave the phone to see how long they hang on for. My record so far is 5 minutes and 45 seconds. I love it. But yes, the law should be changed. Should be able to stab their eyes out if they CALL YOU AT 8 O'CLOCK ON A SUNDAY NIGHT the intrusive b******s.
Telephone cold callers are not what's at issue here - it's easy to put the phone down.
......
It's those who call at your front door that this is all about.
Still, it's a great game......... Try it, really puts a smile on your face and doesn't cost a penny!

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Was Charlie says...
8:20am Tue 27 Nov 12

Letcommonsenseprevai
l wrote:
Was Charlie wrote:
Letcommonsenseprevai


l wrote:
I play a great game with cold callers - when they call I ask them to hold on a second then simply put the handset down (preferably near the telly) and then leave the phone to see how long they hang on for. My record so far is 5 minutes and 45 seconds. I love it. But yes, the law should be changed. Should be able to stab their eyes out if they CALL YOU AT 8 O'CLOCK ON A SUNDAY NIGHT the intrusive b******s.
Telephone cold callers are not what's at issue here - it's easy to put the phone down.
......
It's those who call at your front door that this is all about.
Still, it's a great game......... Try it, really puts a smile on your face and doesn't cost a penny!
Already been doing it for years - not a new idea.

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