The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (NACAB) is calling for tougher laws to regulate door-to-door sales people.

It says it has detailed evidence of cold-callers who "lie" to get their foot in the door, use high pressure tactics to intimidate people, and sometimes refuse to leave.

Super complaint

NACAB has now launched a "super-complaint" with the Office of Fair Trading, which may now launch its own investigation.

The "super-complaint" status means the OFT has just 90 days to decide what to do.

There has been a big increase in complaints in the last couple of years, partly because of door-to-door selling of gas and electricity, and new wheezes to persude people to make legal claims or try to deal with their debts.

Survey

NACAB carried out a survey which revealed that a third of complaints were about the selling of domestic gas and electricity.

Teresa Perchard, Citizens Advice Bureaux

The next biggest areas of complaint in the report were double-glazing and disability aids, then credit deals and legal services.

The organisation now wants a standard 14-day cancellation period for all sales made in the home.

"We think all consumers on their own doorstep should have a right to a cooling off period in which they can cancel," says Teresa Perchard, of the Citizens Advice Bureaux.

"That would make things much simpler, and give people more time to reflect on some of the products being they're being sold."

We think all consumers on their own doorstep should have a right to a cooling off period

Teresa Perchard, Citizens Advice Bureaux

The rules

NACAB is also calling for an obligation on doorstep traders to give all customers a standard leaflet clearly explaining their rights.

These currently include a cancellation period of seven days starting from the day after the purchase - if it was unsolicited.

But if you invited a trader into your home, you are not entitled to any cancellation rights under the Doorstep Selling Regulations.

And if you agree to purchase goods or services with a linked credit agreement you have five days in which to cancel.

Relief

NACAB's campaign will come as a relief to the many Working Lunch viewers who have told us about their experiences at the hands of door-to-door salespeople.

Olive Moussel

Olive Moussel got in touch after she kept being bothered by sales reps who tried to get her to switch gas and electricity suppliers.

In spite of her refusals she then found her supply had been switched.

"They wanted our custom, I said no, and they took it anyway," she says.

"I rang them up and asked for an explanation.

They wanted our custom, I said no, and they took it anyway

Olive Moussel

"They said they'd made a mistake with the number.

"I think the police and neighbourhood watch do try; they caution us but I think it should be considered illegal and stopped."