New rights against door-to-door salesmen

Wednesday, 01 October 2008 08:01

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is launching a campaign to raise awareness of a seven-day 'cooling off period' that consumers are entitled to when buying from a door-to-door salesman.

Consumers have always been covered by a one-week period when they can change their mind on an agreement made after an unsolicited visit from a door-to-door salesman.

But now consumers who have initiated a visit are also protected by the law, provided the transaction was more than £35.

The new regulations also mean that doorstep sellers are required to inform customers in writing of their right to cancel.

The campaign will feature in local newspapers throughout October to let people know about their rights.

Colin Brown, OFT consumer policy director said: "These new regulations will mean that the law is a lot clearer for consumers. People buying goods in their own home now have a safety net of seven days in which to change their mind - regardless of who arranged the visit."

The OFT carried out a market study into doorstep selling showing nearly 40 per cent of consumers had bought goods and services in the home, yet 94 per cent of were generally unaware of their rights when buying through doorstep selling and 30 per cent said they had experience problems after buying in this way.

Last year, the OFT's consumer direct helpline received more than 50,000 complaints about goods and services bought from doorstep sellers, the top complaints being about home maintenance and improvements services, glazing products and installations, and gardening products and services.

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