A warning has been issued against rogue traders in Moray.
Moray Council’s trading standards team says it has found several examples of salesmen appearing to break the law while offering home improvements.
The workers – one of whom is being reported to the procurator fiscal – are allegedly failing to provide customers with their name or contact details.
In addition, householders are not being told of their “cooling off” rights, which allow the cancellation of any agreement within seven days.
Trading standards officers inspected the working practices of a number of traders as part of Operation Monarda and found the paperwork given to customers was often confusing or incomplete.
Trading standards officer Peter Adamson said: “The rules on cold calling are there for good reason. They let customers know who they are dealing with and who to get in touch with if things go wrong.
“Many people don’t know they have a right to cancel if a trader cold calls them. Traders who flout these rules can hide their tracks and effectively remove the right to cancel which customers possess.”
The team has now advised residents not to be persuaded or bullied into agreeing an immediate start to any job – and said traders should always wait for the seven-day cooling off period to expire before bwork.
Anyone with concerns about doorstep sales can get further guidance by phoning the Citizens Advice Consumer Line on 08454 040506.