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Tuesday, 3 September, 2002, 06:30 GMT 07:30 UK
Doorstep sales inquiry call
The Citizen's Advice Bureau is calling for an urgent investigation into doorstep sales as it makes a "super complaint" about door-to-door salesmen.

It will tell the Office of Fair Trading on Tuesday of cases where salesmen have allegedly lied about the law, their identity and the product they are selling.

The accusations are contained in a report compiled from cases in Northern Ireland.

The National Association of Citizens' Advice Bureau report claims sales representatives use "aggressive sales tactics and downright deception to trap vulnerable people into expensive contracts they can't escape".

The report is based on 1,500 reports from more than 350 CABs in England and Northern Ireland.

However, the problem is not thought to be as extensive in Northern Ireland as in England.

NACAB says the report suggests:

  • Sales reps lie - about the law, their identity, the product they are selling and the purpose of their visit to get their foot in the door.

  • Use high pressure sales tactics to intimidate people into agreeing a sale under duress

  • Give consumers misleading information about their rights before, during and after a sale

  • Give poor quality information about complex and high value goods and services they are trying to sell, such as disability aids, legal services and linked credit agreements

  • Outstay their welcome and refuse to leave when asked

  • Target elderly and disabled people to sell them unsuitable equipment at highly inflated prices

  • Make unreasonable demands for payment before a sale or after cancellation

  • Refuse to accept cancellations, approaching consumers repeatedly to try and persuade them to change their minds.

  •  WATCH/LISTEN
     ON THIS STORY
    Siobhan Harding of the Citizen's Advice Bureau:
    "The salesperson took the 75 year old to her bank to withdraw money"
    See also:

    31 Aug 00 | Scotland
    25 Jul 01 | Scotland
    23 Feb 01 | Business
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