Doorstep selling:Increased protection for consumers

New ‘doorstep selling’ regulations, which will increase consumers’ rights, come into force today

Every year, millions of ‘doorstep’ sales take place in homes across the UK. While the law has offered some legal protection for cases in which sellers turn up at consumer’s homes, without advance notice, there has previously been no protection for consumers in cases where the sales visit had been pre-arranged.

From 1 October 2008, this will change with the introduction of the ‘Cancellation of Contracts Made in the Consumer’s Home or Place of Work Regulations 2008’.

These new regulations will protect all consumers who buy products and services from traders at home, regardless of whether the sales visit was unannounced or pre-arranged.

Where the goods or services cost over £35, consumers will have a seven day cooling-off period during which they can cancel the contract. Sellers must provide prospective buyers with written notice of these rights, along with a cancellation form.

The type of businesses affected will include those who provide home improvements, repairs and maintenance services, as well as energy suppliers. It will also cover those who sell consumer goods and homeware through door-to-door or face-to-face methods.

In Northern Ireland, the regulations will be enforced by the Trading Standards Service of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

Trading Standards Inspector Kevin McNamara said: “As well as increasing the level of consumer protection, these new regulations will make the law in this area clearer and more consistent, for both consumers and traders.”

If traders do not comply with these requirements, any contract agreed with a customer will not be legally binding. More importantly, such traders will be committing an offence.

Kevin McNamara continued: “Trading Standards Service will investigate any alleged breaches of the Regulations that are brought to its attention, and we will take enforcement action, where appropriate.”

If consumers have a complaint regarding doorstep sales or require further advice, they should contact Consumerline on 0845 600 6262 or 028 9025 3900, or alternatively, online at www.consumerline.org.

Notes to Editors:

1. The new regulations are the Cancellation of Contracts Made in a Consumer’s Home or Place of Work etc Regulations 2008, SI 2008 No. 1816. They come into force on 1 October 2008. They replace the Consumer Protection (Cancellation of Contracts Concluded Away from Business Premises) Regulations 1987, SI 1987 No. 2117.
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