Carmarthenshire residents are being advised to be on their guard following a spate of high pressure sales calls from companies demanding up-front payment for boilers and home energy improvements.
The council’s Trading Standards team is investigating a number of reports from people who claim they have been pressurised by cold callers in to paying money for goods or services they don’t actually need.
Their advice is to be wary of sales people who ‘cold call’, to take time to think over any offers, and do some research before agreeing to sign up to a contract.
Cllr Jim Jones, Executive Board Member for Public Protection, said: “Be wary of giving your bank or card details to anyone who has called you up or knocked on your door out of the blue offering you goods or services.
“There are many reputable firms out there that do provide services to help you reduce your home energy costs, but some unscrupulous firms are exploiting people and pressuring them in to signing contracts and paying large sums of money upfront for home energy measures they may not even need.
“Our advice is to take some time to think about it, do your research, and get some advice from someone you trust, or an organisation like the Citizens Advice Consumer Service.”
- The Citizens Advice Consumer Service can be contacted on 03454 040 506.
