Please note the following and act accordingly. Also please inform people in your area where possible

Possible scam report from Trading Standards

Good afternoon,
I have just spoken to a resident from The Saltings, Flag Hill, Great Bentley about a suspicious call he received earlier today.

The caller said they were from Social Services, and asked if the elderly gent suffered from arthritis. When he confirmed that he did, they said they would visit him the next day to advise him on baths etc.

I think it is probably a pushy salesman selling mobility equipment, but am unable to verify this as the number cannot be traced.

Could you therefore please warn your clients and other local vulnerable residents they should not be taken in by a stranger offering this assistance. I would also strongly suggest that residents use Telephone Preference on 0845 0700707 in order to reduce unwanted sales calls.

Regards,
Susan Kielty
Project Officer

Tel: 01245 341954

Hello
Please take note of the following alert brought to our attention:

Last evening we had a man call selling lottery in aid of charities across East Anglia. He was wearing an ID of sorts!! and was carrying a blue A5 magazine called LINK. The lottery is 50p per week and money goes to all the charities in his mag. He nearly caught us out, (I didn't check his ID) I had paid him £4 for two months and then asked if he was a volunteer. He turned out to be a Director of a company called REM Publishing Limited, from Acle, Norfolk. I then looked at his ID which was not very official looking and was stuck to a nick strap with selotape. I asked for my money back telling him I was not going to give my money to a company living off the good nature of people supposedly giving to charities. He was not happy when I took the lottery card with our address off him and asked him to leave. He remained in the grounds on the phone stomping about before leaving. Peter rang the Police station and spoke to a very helpful lady PC who is going to take it further. They probably are a Publishing Company, but the way he sold the lottery to me was underhand. He as a scruffy, smelly, unclean sort of chap, unfortunately I didn't get his name.
Just wanted you to be aware they are about in Colchester.

Hello all
In the last few days several incidents have been reported in Colchester of residents getting cold callers to their homes offering to repair driveways, undertake garden work or house repairs for what is very shoddy, unprofessional and expensive work done by people who cannot be traced. Residents have reported that they have paid for work by the cold callers representing 'companies' with signs or vans indicating that the workman have several branches throughout England but which in fact do not exist. Other callers have signs indicating a single 'company' name and again cannot be traced or phone numbers that do not exist.

The Colchester Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership has one simple message. Do not, under any circumstances, buy any goods or services from any person or persons cold calling at your home. If you think you need work doing on your home or in your garden get quotes from three companies who you have contacted and know really do exist. Don't hand over any money until you are satisfied with the work.

Remember, don't buy at the door! With spring around the corner this is the time you may get stung, not by insects, but by underhand and greedy human beings wanting your money for virtually worthless work.

Regards

Peter Carrington
Community Safety Co-ordinator
Colchester Borough Council
Community Safety Team
C/O Colchester Police Station
10 Southway, Colchester
Essex C03 3BU
Tel: 01206 717816
Fax: 01206 717616

Door step rip off

Last Sunday March 13th a retired widow living the Colchester Area had a man call at her door, he was driving a white van marked "Nationwide" he offered to cut down a tree in her front garden and she agreed. Her son in law informed us that the trunk of the tree was at most 1 ft in diameter and about 8 ft tall, the charge was £100.00.

The lady paid by cheque. The family are concerned that people living on there own are warned about accepting services form men /women at the door.

Regards Carole Dennis
Tel: 01206 513333

Please make note of the following there has not been any reports of this in the Colchester area but it is good to be aware and prepared

A company called Neighbourhood Watch Ltd is preying on elderly people in the Salford area and they are using "bullying" tactics to generate sales of video door entry systems. From a Trading Standards point of view they have committed several offences and the police are interested in them also for possible offences of theft by deception. Salford Trading Standards have already been in contact with the NNWA to discuss the issue.

There are also concerns that the company might widen their activities beyond Salford.

The registered address for NW Ltd is Enterprise House, 82 Whitchurch Road, Cardiff CF14 3LX

Further information is available form Salford trading standards;

Jonathan Hall, Crime & Disorder Enforcement Officer, Salford City Council Trading Standards

Tel 0161 925 1342 e-mail jonathan.hall@salford.gov.uk

Regards

Nigel Davies