Unscrupulous door-to-door salespeople are increasingly targeting elderly and disabled people and selling them overpriced goods, a consumer group has warned.

They are quite cynically targeted and pressured into parting with lifetime savings - often by deception

David Harker, NACAB director

The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (NACAB) says a disproportionate number of the cases it deals with arise from unscrupulous doorstep selling.

As a result, NACAB has lodged a 'super-complaint' with the government calling for immediate action against the worse offenders.

The consumer group also wants to see legislation introduced to protect consumers.

Inflated prices

The main gripes include salespeople giving misleading information, and selling unsuitable equipment at inflated prices.
NACAB claim that some door-to-door salespeople even refuse to leave when asked to by the householder.

In one case a woman was told she had won a prize to have her sofa cleaned.
The salesperson called the next day, cleaned the sofa then persuaded the woman to buy the cleaner at a cost of �2,000.
She tried to cancel the next day but was refused a refund.

Cynical targeting

NACAB have handed the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) a dossier of 1500 cases relating to doorstep selling.

The main offenders are home improvement and gas and electricity salespeople.

Often the elderly and disabled are the victims. "They are quite cynically targeted and pressured into parting with lifetime savings - often by deception," said NACAB director David Harker.

Super-complaint

Since the beginning of the year consumer groups have been able to lodge a super-complaint with the OFT if they feel urgent action is needed.

At present there is a seven day cooling-off period for consumers that buy from unsolicited door-to-door sellers.

NACAB would like to see this period extended to two weeks and for it to include sales made as a result of pre-arranged appointments.

The consumer group also wants the OFT to use its 'stop now' powers to crack down hard on firms that allow sales people to act unscrupulously.

Report within a year

In response, the OFT has not ruled out the use of stop now powers against door-to-door sellers and is duty bound to reply to a super-complaint within 90 days.

Paul Matthews, OFT spokesman, told BBC News Online that they welcomed the NACAB move and a full report into doorstep selling could be ready within a year.

In the meantime, Mr Matthews recommended that consumers take precautions when dealing with door-to-door salespeople.

Householders should check salesperson identities before letting them through the door. In addition, the OFT recommends that consumers get salespeople to call back if they are given any complex reading material.

Your comments:

Door to Door sales people are pushy to the extreme. They don't care how they make that sale or who they sell too. Unfortunately older people tend to be polite and give people the time of day. This is the wrong strategy. The only way to deal with sales people is to say no and close the door, or put the phone down.
Richard Hough, UK

Tele-sales people from the gas and electricity seem to be the worst offenders - they seem to get my address correct but I never receive any explanatory materials through the post. It seems they are as 'guilty' at attempting to pressure consumers as the foot-in-the-door salespeople are.
Keith Halewood, UK

I've found a huge increase in the aggressive doorstep 'selling' from charity organisations. Staff who are on commission rates are acting as forcefully as the 'traditional' doorstep sellers. Obviously charities are still regarded as a separate entity but appear to be employing the same strong arm tactics.
keri collins, UK

I have been a Successful door-door sales man myself and came in the top 10 as a rep and a team manager, always being honest. What needs to be taken in to account is that many of these sales people are only doing what they have been taught to do by their employers.
Rob Tucker, Wales

Having sold books door to door in America, and double glazing for a UK firm, I can safely say that the majority of door to door salesmen are reputable. It is a shame however that some use confusion and threatening behaviour to make the sale at any cost.
Julian, England

It's not only door to door salespeople that have taken a more aggressive sales pitch. Telephone and street salespeople bombard you with questions as you pass promising "only two minutes of your time". They should be able to understand when no means no!
Gareth, S.Wales

Marketing is evil! This is another irritating facet of modern life. We are constantly harassed to buy things we don't need in increasingly unscrupulous ways. The worst has to be lifestyle image marketing at children.
Anthony Lorton, UK

Double Glazing salespeople are still the worst, it took four hours to get one to leave my house (this was at midnight!) and then only getting rude and verbally forcefull. Comments that these people are only doing what they are told/taught is a cop-out, I worked in retail sales for over 8 years and would never have resorted to some of the method used by these people. An individual makes their own moral choices, not their boss.
Gideon Liddiard, UK

I worked in the "pressure sales" industry for a "very" short time and the goal is to sell the product for as high a price as possible. We were told to try and sell for between �3000 - �4000 but we could drop this down to just �400 if we wished as this was the actual cost. Anything above the �400 was split 50/50 with the parent company. I never made a sale as I just wasn't the type of guy who could con people. The best rule I can offer is never buy from a dooor to door salesman as the product will have an inflated price to cover their commission.
Graeme Tuck, UK

It should be made illegal to attempt to sell at peoples doors. If I want to buy something I'll go shopping. I do not want to discuss my business with a stranger on my door step.
Clive, UK

How is it that we have the Telephone Preference Service and Mailing Preference Service to allow us to opt out of receiving marketing via telephone and post but any salesman has a right to turn up at our doors unannounced to sell goods in any way they choose?
Jason Huntley, England

Having done a brief stint as a double glazing telesales person I am not surprised. When we were asked to watch the 'best' people on the phone I watched one girl rubbing her hands together in glee at the sound of an elderly voice on the phone; it was generally known that older people were often desperate for someone to talk to and if confused would often just agree to what they were told by a forceful person. I lasted 3 days in that job...
J Fernandes, UK

I don't see what the fuss is all about. Remember many successful companies have been built up where the founders started life "On the knock" To even suggest a ban on door to door salesman is another nail in the coffin for freedom of speech and human rights.
David Stevens, UK

I would like to see a voluntary ban on doorstep selling by ALL energy retailers. It has become obvious that self regulation has not worked, and who could expect it to when they contract agencies which employ people on a commission only basis to manage their doorstep selling. I personally will not buy anything on my doorstep, nor via telesales. Maybe if we all did this then this problem would go away !
Chris Reid, UK

I had a visit at the door a few months ago from a Double Glazing saleswoman. My house (fitted with Double Glazing as standard) and the estate I live on is only five years old. I suggested to the saleswoman that the company should do its research and target areas with old housing that might need replacement windows. She then informed me that new houses need replacement windows after five years, a blatant lie!
Mike Hatfield, Great Britain

Don't be a sheep, the wolf at your door is there to take your money. It makes me laugh when they always follow the standard book of rules to get that sale. "I'll just ring the office", "Show home", "Special discount", Starting at 500% mark up. I feel sorry for those that fall for these practices.
Simon, UK

I've worked in Business to business telesales & Marketing for the last 14 years and i can honestly say that i would NEVER buy of a door to door salesperson,street vendor or give money to a charity via a "charity mugger". If we all say no or if you do sign then cancel within the 14 day cooling off period they will all fade away soon enough.
Jason, Manchester,England

I find this very upsetting. My grandmother, who is 91, keeps being harrassed by door-to-door salesman Unfortunately, she gets confused and tends to trust them. She must have changed electricity supplier three or four times in the past year. In the worst cases, we have even found that the salesman has forged her signature. Let's hope the OFT does something about it.
Ben, England

Cold-knocking and equally cold-calling should be outlawed.
Luke, England

The High Street banks are particular offenders of "junk phone" selling. My usual response is to ask for the details to be sent to me in the post. I always get the same reply: "Oh, we can't do that !" The High Stret banks should set an example: their reputation is already badly tarnished as a supplier of consumer services.
Mr. Alan Hall, England

Cold calling door to door sales should be made illegal, but with special provisions for charities.
Paul Hibberson, UK

I would have to agree with David Stevens of the UK. We are slowly becoming a society ruled by regimented systems. I think there should be sensible steps to rule out those few who abuse the door to door system but otherwise people have a choice as to whether to open the door.
Stephanie Aitkins, UK

My wife is registered blind, but our two sons are still living at home with us. They both stand at well over 6 feet tall. It is a brave / foolhardy salesman who stands his ground when my wife calls them to the door......
John, UK

The comments of some salespeople here suggest they are highly driven. If they are statistically more likely to obtain a sale by pressuring the elderly and vulnerable, of course they will do so! I firmly agree there ought to be tighter regulation of unsolicited sales calls of any nature.
Lee, UK

I feel that we have to remember why telephone sales staff and door to door sales men are 'pushy', it is because many are paid on commission and have to meet certain targets for bonus' etc, so I feel that the major companies sould be targeted with this complaint, if they paid a regular, decent wage the staff would not need to be so extreme.
Rebecca, Wales

I agree with Clive, ban door-to-door salesmen and, whilst we're at it, ban junk/unsoilicited mail as well (think of the trees we will save)
RAB, UK