Householders in Shrewsbury are being warned to be vigilant against “pushy” alarm salesmen.
Police in the town say they have had a number of complaints from elderly people in recent weeks who have been left upset and concerned by calls from salesmen from security companies who allegedly try to force people to let them visit their home to fit an alarm system.
Detective Sergeant Chris Walsh said it was possible the company was legitimate, but callers appeared reluctant to identify themselves unless specifically asked the name of the business.
He said: “We have received a number of reports, all of them from elderly residents, who have been left worried and frightened by the persistent nature of the calls and a refusal to take no for an answer.”
14 Comments
Very alarming..
Strange photograph to accompany this story………
Sounds like you need an alarm to repel the alarm sales people,how odd.Ive got a few ideas of how to get rid of them but i dont think you would print them.
Under the human rights act we Alarm salesmen are allowed to earn a living!
‘Andrew’ if your products are good enough you should have enough buisness not to have to ‘cold call’
Andrew,how would you feel if i turned up trying to sell you something you did`nt want and i refused to leave until you signed.
Or have you got a time share,delux wet/dry vaccum and multiple encyclopaedia and stone cladding?
Martin, I think we have to be realistic and accept that cold calling (although annoying) is a proven and successful method of genuine and reputable businesses obtaining sales. It is however wrong to use the bullying methods described above.
What we need to do is implement legislation to only enable authorised, approved and trained companies to use cold calling techniques. This could serve two purposes.
1. Quality of service would be improved, with less chance of ‘forced’ sales techniques.
2. Would encourage companies to only use UK based call centres to ensure that the legislation is adhered to.
Andrew,is it ok if i come to your house and refuse to leave until you buy something you dont even want or have you already got stone cladding,a time share,wet/dry vaccum and all new double glazing.
Everyone should turn it around, invite these people make them work hard to try sell you an alarm, keep them there for as long as you can but then say, no not interested.
These salesman only coldcall because it is successfull. If we refuse to buy they wont bother!!!
I know a few salesman and they are all small jumped up twerps. Especially those who try and sell broadband!!
Wendy, if it was a door to door salesman I would be inclined to agree but a phone call leaves you with a simple choice. You can easily hang up on a caller, so I don’t see the relevance in your comment.
MonkeyBoy, You are correct in one way in that if we don’t buy then they wont call but inviting them to your house is perhaps a little careless!
Its easy with telephone callers, just tell them you are not interested and ask them not to call again. If they do then threaten to report them to OFCOM the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries. This should calm them down a little!
Matty,
I was trying to introduce a little
humour and irony to the article.
Dont be so black and white.
ban cold callers simple .same as the morons phoneing you up bvan that as well unwarranted intrusion
Sorry Ms Wendy
And for the record I am neither black or white, but a politically correct mixture!
Andrew, cold callers have usually obtained permission to contact through other means. Filling in a competition entry for example, and forgetting to tick the box at the bottom about passing your details onto third parties.