Newsroom

Boost for consumer protection in door-to-door sales

131/06    11 September 2006

The OFT today welcomed the Government's announcement that it will legislate to provide cooling-off periods on goods and services sold to people in their homes, even when the sales representatives have been invited to visit.

As the law stands consumers have the right to cancel within a seven day period when a sales visit is unsolicited, but an OFT study found that 94 per cent of consumers were unaware of these cancellation rights. Under the new proposals consumers will also have the same protection when buying goods from representatives irrespective of whether they have been formally invited into their home.

These changes will complement the forthcoming 'Unfair Commercial Practices' legislation which will take positive action on aggressive sales techniques used by representatives. This includes pressurizing consumers into buying a product or service, by outstaying their welcome in consumers' homes, or falsely claiming they will get a better deal if they sign up immediately to prevent them from buying elsewhere.

Jonathan May, Director at the OFT said:

'Extending protection in this way means that consumers shopping from home can be confident that they are protected from unscrupulous doorstep sellers.'

More information and advice on doorstep selling can be found by downloading the OFT leaflet Your doorstep, your decision (pdf 285 kb)

NOTES

1. A statistical summary of the responses to the doorstep selling consultation has been published. For a statistical summary of responses to the doorstep selling consultation can be found on the DTI website.

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