Cold callers and scam artists are being targeted by North East Lincolnshire Council in a bid to protect your money.

This week NELC’s Trading Standards Team has put up three new cold-calling zone signs in the Convamore Road area of Grimsby.

The No Cold Calling Zone scheme is part of a larger nationwide initiative where a zone will be marked by signs on street lamps and local residents will be informed about how to deal with cold callers.

The zones are set up in partnership with Neighbourhood Watch and the council’s Community Safety Wardens, who are erecting the signs free of charge.

There are currently 24 Cold Calling Control Zones operating in North East Lincolnshire, covering approximately 2,600 homes, and N E Lincs Council is creating another five zones in the sweekext few weeks.

The scheme is aimed at rogue traders, con men, and distraction burglars, but will also deter legitimate companies who employ cold calling and pressure selling tactics.

Councillor Steve Beasant, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Public Protection, said:

“This scheme protects residents from cold callers. In these trying economic times, there may be a temptation for businesses to employ tougher methods of salesmanship. While these aren’t necessarily illegal, our duty of care is to residents and ensuring they receive value for money and a good level of service.”

Trading Standards officers have also issued a warning to residents after a number of new door-to-door and mail scams were attempted in North East Lincolnshire.

If somebody does approach your home you are advised to ask for identification, references and, preferably, membership of the Home Services Directory – a database featuring trading standards-vetted trades-people.

Councillor Beasant added:

“Regrettably, with the warmer weather, there is an increased risk that brazen bluffers will start to crawl out from under their stones. The key message is to be wary of people who call at your home or phone unannounced – and to never do business on your doorstep for jobs on your home.”

Andy Foster, the council’s trading standards manager, said:

“If you’ve already been approached and are worried – seek advice.

“If you find that you have succumbed to the offer of a cheap job once, do not allow the trader to offer to do more work for you and call us instead.

“It is never too late, even if you have committed to what you understand is a contract.”

There have also been a number of mail scams reported in North East Lincolnshire in recent weeks.

Mr Foster added “Every year an estimated three-million people fall victim to mass-marketed scams such as bogus lotteries, deceptive prize draws and sweepstakes, fake psychics, get-rich-quick schemes, miracle health cures and bogus money transfers.

“Many of these scams are sent through the post, as well as by email or over the phone, and target the elderly and vulnerable.
“We advise residents not to respond to the scams and always keep your bank details secure and never disclose them in response to e mails, letters or telephone calls that come out of the blue. Residents should remember if it sounds too good to be true it usually is”

The Home Services Directory is available by clicking onto the website http://www.wyjs.org.uk/hsd/homepage.asp or you can call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 for any other trading standards advice. If you would like to report a scam to trading standards then text the word ’scam’ followed by your message to 82055. Alternatively, if you are a Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator and would like to create a Cold Calling Control Zone in your area then call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06