No Cold Calling Zone and scams

Sedgwick No Cold Calling Zone

Our area has a long-established history of unwanted cold callers and in 2016 Sedgwick Parish Council were the first to use the Cumbria Council Toolkit to create an officially designated NO COLD CALLING ZONE (NCCZ) to help reduce incidents of rogue trading and distraction burglary.

Quite simply, NCCZ are about local residents or communities having the confidence to say "No" to uninvited sales people and to warn rogue traders and cold callers that they are not welcome in an area. The zones are easily identifiable by road signs and doorstep stickers visibly promoting the message that cold callers are not welcome.

The NCCZ was evaluated in 2017. Residents are reporting far fewer incidents of Cold Callers; the designation of the Village as a NCCZ clearly demarcated by road signs seems to deter the whole Village being targeted.

If a cold caller calls.......

Trading Standards' advice is to always say no to cold callers. They advise against dealing with anyone who makes a cold call to your home to try to sell goods or services.
You should never allow anyone access to your home unless you are able to verify their authenticity and confirm that they have a valid reason for being there. Legitimate callers such as utilities employees who read meters, canvassers and health workers, will always carry identification and will not mind being challenged; they will expect you to ask them for this identification and want you to check that it is genuine.

If you receive a visit
from a Cold Caller
notify Cumbria Trading Standards via the
Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06
or Cumbria Police on 101

Avoiding Scams

No one likes to feel that they’ve been conned but unfortunately there are an increasing number of scams designed to cheat you out of your money or steal your identity. However, you can avoid being deceived by scams if you know what to look for.

Resources to help avoid scams
There is useful advice on www.ageuk.org.uk
and we have acquired copies of a very useful booklet which explains how to avoid falling victim to attacks. Please contact us if you would like a copy.