2007
Representatives from North East Trading Standards Association (NETSA) and Consumer Direct North East, the new government-funded consumer advice service for the region, will be jumping on board the BBC bus on Thursday 6 July to advise County Durham residents on how to avoid falling victim to the latest scams.
The BBC bus will be touring the North East throughout the week as part of its ‘Scambusters’ campaign and will be stopping at the Bay Horse Inn, 10 Manor Street in Evenwood, Bishop Auckland between 9am and 4pm on Thursday 6 July.
Visitors to the bus will be able to get free advice from Trading Standards representatives on a wide range of consumer issues and problems.
Consumer Direct North East was launched buy the OFT, in May 2006 is a Government-funded telephone helpline and online service providing clear, practical and impartial advice and information to consumers. Its 16 specially trained advisers at the contact centre in Redcar help callers from Northumberland in the north to Redcar and Cleveland in the south, providing pre-purchase advice, information on consumer rights, and guidance on how to deal with individual problems.
Consumer Direct works in partnership with local authority trading standards to help callers who may have a case needing further action. Consumer Direct delivers first tier advice, allowing trading standards to focus on more difficult cases.
Jeff Bell, Chair of NETSA said:
“We are delighted to be supporting the BBC campaign. NETSA has won money from Government to set up a regional Scambusting team. The team will tackle malicious and fraudulent trading that cuts across local authority boundaries, using intelligence generated by Consumer Direct, amongst others. In that way we hope to prevent this pernicious form of trading from claiming more and more elderly and vulnerable victims.”
Consumer Direct has put together 10 top tips to help people protect themselves from scams:
1. Are you the only one to receive this letter, call or email? Check with someone you know and trust like a friend, relative or neighbour – that personalised approach has probably been sent to thousands.
2. Check out the company. Ask for written information or a number to call back. Check with your Consumer Direct if you’re not sure.
3. Do not give out your personal bank account or credit card details to someone you don’t know.
4. Don’t be pressured into signing anything or sending any money.
5. If it’s a genuine offer they have nothing to hide and it will be there tomorrow.
6. Remember there is a scam for everyone. No one is immune to tempting offers or the professional pitch.
7. It’s not always easy to spot scams as new ones are invented every day. If you suspect you have been a target of a scam don’t be embarrassed – you’re not alone.
8. If you have been taken in, don’t be ashamed you’ve done nothing wrong. It is professional and manipulative conmen that have broken the law. Report it and become a Scambuster.
9. Look out for friends or relatives who may have been targeted. Are they receiving dozens of prize draw letters or telephone calls from overseas? Is their house full of cheap unwanted trinkets, jewellery or medical devices? If so encourage them to talk.
10. Trust your instincts - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Further information and advice is available by calling Consumer Direct on 08454 040506
-ends-
Media contact:
For further information please call Sue Gungaram, Communications and Liaison Officer (North E) on (01642) 495 681.
Notes for Editors
The BBC bus will be at the following locations:
Mon 3 July Co. Durham Raw Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle /
Tue 4 July Co. Durham RaW The Co-op, New Road, Crook
Wed 5 July BBC Event RaW BBC Big Screen - World Cup Semi Final, Central Square
Thur 6 July Co. Durham RaW Evenwood WMC, Manor Street, Bishop Auckland
Fri 7 July Co. Durham RaW The Zone, Sedgefield
1. Consumer Direct is a telephone and online consumer advice service, managed by the Office of Fair Trading and delivered working in partnership with Local Authority Trading Standards. It provides clear, practical consumer advice to help consumers resolve problems and disagreements with suppliers of goods or services.
2. Consumer Direct North East, based in Redcar, was launched in May 2006. The service is the latest addition to the Consumer Direct network. There are now eleven regional operations in England, Wales and Scotland.
3. The service is delivered through contact centres across England, Scotland and Wales and is available to consumers via a single, telephone number and the Consumer Direct website (www.consumerdirect.gov.uk).
4. The information and advice helpline is available on 08454 04 05 06 from 0800-1830 Monday to Friday, and 0900-1300 Saturday, excluding bank holidays and public holidays.
5. To call a Welsh speaking Consumer Direct adviser, telephone 08454 04 05 05. Minicom users should call 08451 28 13 84.
6. Calls cost a maximum of 4 pence per minute from a BT landline. Calls from mobiles or other networks may vary. Your service provider may charge a minimum cost per call. The advice and information given is free.
7. Since it was first launched in 2004, Consumer Direct users have saved significant amounts of money through refunds, replacements and repairs. In a 2005 survey, over 86 per cent of callers said they would recommend the service to friends and family.
