Don’t Knock It – Callers Left Out In The Cold

If you see the sign then don’t come knocking.

That’s the message to all cold callers, doorstep sellers and pushy pedlars from residents in one area of Golborne that has just become Wigan’s first official No Cold Calling Zone (NCCZ).

Launched this week, the zone covers Thornfield Close and Lancaster Avenue and is an attempt to crack down on rogue traders, doorstep conmen and distraction burglars.

Wigan Council’s Trading Standards team has worked closely with the police, Age Concern and other agencies to set up the zone where any doorstep sellers who call on residents without an appointment, will be told they are not welcome.

The area is prominently identified with high visibility signs and residents have been encouraged to report anyone trying to sell door-to-door to the Trading Standards team.

Wigan Chief Trading Standards officer Alan Blundell says:

“We get a lot of complaints from people who have agreed to have work done at their homes after they have had someone turning up on the doorstep. In many instances they have been charged extortionate amounts of money for very poor quality work, or in some cases for work that was completely unnecessary. These traders often avoid any comeback by giving out false details.

“We don’t want to obstruct legitimate businesses but we are aware that these rogue traders who call round uninvited are often involved in serious criminal activity. This often includes people who claim to be from organisations such as the council or water board to get into someone’s home to steal their belongings.”

The zone has been funded through the Greater Manchester Police Authority and all residents in the area have been visited and briefed on how to handle unwanted callers.

The area was chosen because of the high number of older residents and because police and trading standards officers have already received complaints about doorstep sellers and rogue traders. If it is a success it will be expanded to other parts of Wigan Borough in due course.

Inspector Gail Spruce from Greater Manchester Police said she hoped the zone would give residents the confidence they needed to just ‘slam the door’.

“We are encouraging people to not even speak to people who turn up at their door unannounced,” says Insp Spruce. “The residents should just show them the signs or the cards we have left at every house and close the door on them, even if they are from legitimate businesses.”

Resident Elizabeth Wood, who is also Thornfield Close’s Homewatch Co-ordinator, has already reaped the benefits of living in the zone.

“So far I have had the confidence to turn away two people who turned up trying to sell me something,” says a delighted Elizabeth. “We are really pleased that our area has been chosen to pilot this scheme. We know the whole community is behind this and we are sure it will be a success.

“The difficulty for people of my generation and the older people who live here is they were brought up to be polite. It can be difficult to go against your upbringing and also embarrassing to turn someone away. Thankfully the support we have from Trading Standards and the police and the signs give us the back-up we need to deal with these people.

“All we can hope for now is that these people see the signs, get the message and don’t come knocking in the first place.”