Which? Trusted Traders working in Camden

Which? Trusted Traders is delighted to work together with the London Borough of Camden, the Metropolitan Police and Age UK to protect residents from cold calling.

Which? Trusted Traders is committed to protecting vulnerable customers from aggressive doorstep selling tactics. We do not endorse traders who use doorstop selling as a sales technique, and now we’re sponsoring the signs for a new cold calling zone (NCCZ) in the London Borough of Camden.

Representatives of Which? Trusted Traders, the London Borough of Camden, Age UK and the Metropolitan Police were at the launch of the scheme today in Grafton Terrace in Camden.

   

What are NCCZs

No cold calling zones are areas where businesses are not allowed to knock on doors to try to get work. In order to set up a NCCZ, the council works with the residents to find out how safe they feel in their homes and seeks their agreement to ensure they’re happy with the idea of setting up a zone in their area. In Camden, when residents were asked to rate how safe they felt on a scale of 1 to 10, one lady rated how safe she felt at home as zero.

Areas are often set up where there are more vulnerable people at risk – that could mean older or disabled residents, those on benefits, or others perceived as at increased risk from door step traders. 

Why do we need NCCZs?

Cold calling is not a sales technique used by reputable businesses and those traders that do use it are often not local to the area. Residents who use the services of rogue traders can find themselves saddled with shoddy workmanship and no means of getting it put right.

Unfortunately rogue callers have also been known to work together with criminal gangs who will then target vulnerable households.

Which? Trusted Traders and the London Borough of Camden are working together to provide a safe alternative to rogue traders for local residents. Which? artworkers designed the No Cold Calling Zone signs, which will be used throughout the borough to designate areas that are part of the no cold calling scheme.

Raj Kakar-Clayton, managing director of Which? Trusted Traders said: ‘It's very important that consumers look to trustworthy traders, such as those who have been checked and assessed by Which? trading standards professionals, before considering getting work done. Which? Trusted Traders provides consumers with the ability to do just that, so residents can be more confident in their choice of business.’

Age UK Camden’s Information and Advice Manager, Harriet Ingham commented: ‘Our work is focused on promoting the wellbeing and independence of older people in Camden. So we’re delighted to support this initiative to improve safety and reduce crime in the borough.’

Sgt Ailsa Naish, Metropolitan Police said: ‘Camden Police are delighted to be working with Camden Council's Trading Standards to set up this No Cold Calling Zone. We have seen many reports of local residents unwittingly using the services of rogue traders, and then having to deal with poor workmanship or poor quality products, and no way of getting back in touch with the provider to complain. We are also committed to deterring burglaries, which often goes hand-in-hand with cold calling. We will deal robustly with any offences committed in the zone and will work hard to keep our residents safe.’

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