Trading standards - fair trading

Croydon Trading Standards and Croydon Police are working hard to tackle doorstep crime.

At a consultation meeting held in 2007 Shirley residents agreed to set up a local no cold calling zone as a way of reducing the number of bogus caller and rogue trader offences in the area.

While this type of offence is still relatively rare the impact of being tricked and losing your money can be very serious. As most people who call at your home are genuine we do not ask you to turn away genuine callers such as election canvassers or legitimate door-to-door envelope collectors for well known charities.

However, a number of callers who turn up unannounced will try very hard to trick their way into your home to steal, or to get you to agree to household and garden work being done, that you do not need, and may be very poorly carried out.

Following, the resident's consultation meeting it was agreed to set up the Shirley no cold calling zone.

Experiences in areas where similar schemes operate have found that by giving everyone the confidence to say 'No - I don't buy at the door' can protect the more vulnerable people in your road.

We put together a resident's pack full of useful information. It also helps you to find reputable businesses, and gives tips and advice on how to say 'no' with confidence.

Signs have also been put up on lamp posts to alert callers that rogues are not welcome in the zone.

If you live in the roads covered by the Shirley no cold calling zone and would like a resident's pack then please contact us.

The zone was featured in Your Croydon and a copy of the relevant page has been provided below as a download file as is the evaluation report.