Door Step Selling Problem

[carras]

Has anyone has experience of door step salesmen, who persuade you to sign up for something and at the same time tell you that with this document the 14 cooling off period does not apply?
I have, and in addition I was told that if I did try to back out I would be sued and they would wil!
I have now heard that the company involved is in trouble with trading standards in Corwall because their product does not meet expectation and I would like to get out.
How? Help?

[Ethel]

Good information here:

http://www.bristol-city.gov.uk/ccm/content/Adv ice-Benefits/Trading-standards/trading-standar ds-right-to-cancel.en;jsessionid=F52B783178A6D 60C331F4D6EFAD1427C

As clearly stated, the cooling off period does not apply if you have invited the salesman to your home by appointment.

Did he just call out of the blue?

[Eve]

There are the Doorstep Selling Regulations (1988), try this...http://www.dti.gov.uk/consumers/fact-sheets/pa ge24648.html.

The regs give:-

� The right to a seven day cooling-off period during which they may cancel an agreement to buy goods or services worth more than �35 from a trader whose visit is unsolicited.

� The same right to a seven-day cooling of period where a visit by a trader follows an unsolicited doorstep or telephone approach.

The Regulations also provide that:

� Traders who fail to inform consumers in writing of their right to a cooling off period will be committing a criminal offence.

� Door-to-door sellers must provide a notice setting out cancellation rights when any agreement is made. Failure to do so makes the agreement unenforceable. This is the case whether a deposit is paid or not.

There are exceptions for contracts relating to: land; food and drink; certain catalogue sales; insurance; investment agreements; goods or services worth less than �35.

You could try the Citizen's Advice Bureau (http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/) or Trading Standards (http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/).

[carras]

Looks like I am in trouble, the salesman called by appointment!

[yummymummy]

These Regs are looking to be changed to include visits that are pre-arranged. As Jenna has shown, at the moment, if you received an unsolicited phone call and arranged visit through that, you are covered. If you just found a number for them yourself and asked them to call, then you are generally not.

If there is any credit involved to pay for the item, then there are different rules and you are more likely to have cooling off rights.

Theoretically, you can get out of it because anyone can cancel a contract at any time, it just isn't always free of any penalties. You could cancel, and then offer to cover any expenses that they have incurred between when you agreed and now, which may work out cheaper than carrying on with the whole thing. Will depend on what the product/service is that you have bought.