Bogus ‘Police’ alarm sales Rugby
Rugby and Warwickshire residents are warned to beware of unexpected phone calls from people falsely claiming to work for Warwickshire Police and selling alarms. The callers make appointments for salespeople to visit resident’s homes.
Warwickshire Police do not cold-call residents on the phone to sell alarm systems or sell alarms door to door.
Over the years, lots of consumers have had problems with high pressure sellers, selling expensive home alarm systems that aren’t always what they are cracked up to be. Unfortunately the elderly and vulnerable are often targeted. Tactics employed by salesmen to sell expensive and unsuitable alarm systems include:
The use of dubious crime/fire statistics, and tales of robbery and assault to scare householders in to buying.
Telling the householder that new legislation will prevent them obtaining contents insurance if they do not have a monitored alarm. This is not true.
Pretending to be calling on behalf of Trading Standards, Fire and Rescue Service, Police or Neighbourhood Watch in order to make their visit appear official.
Offering ‘free’ monitored alarms. The householder is told they have either won or been selected for an alarm. Although this may seem at first to be a tempting offer, what is not always made clear to householders who take up this offer is that they will have to pay a service charge to whichever company monitors the alarm system that is fitted – and this could be hundreds of pounds a year. Householders will also find themselves locked in to an agreement that could last several years and be required to pay for additional annual system check ups. In all the cost of this ‘free’ alarm could be many thousands of pounds.
Consumers who are considering purchasing an alarm system should not be rushed in to doing so on the door step, but should get at least three quotes from reputable companies.
Make a scam/rogue trader complaint to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 040506.
Warwickshire Trading Standards Website Facebook Twitter. Sign up to scam alerts at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/scams