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No cold calling zones

Cold calling is when someone calls at a home without a prior invitation.

It's normally carried out by traders and sales persons who will try to sell a product or service and is a legal and accepted method of doing business in this country. Other organisations which cold call are charities, religious groups and political parties at election time.

Some people are happy to receive cold callers.

However, a lot of people find cold calling to be annoying, unacceptable and an invasion of their privacy. In addition, cold calling is a known method used by rogue traders, bogus workmen, high pressure sales people and bogus officials whose aim is to con householders and rip them off. There is also a proven link between cold calling and instances of burglary, particularly distraction burglary. All too often the seemingly innocent doorstep seller is actually checking things out for a re-visit at a later date to carry out a burglary or distraction burglary.

Reduce cold calling and you may reduce instances of consumers being ripped off and instances of burglary. Below you'll find a copy of our toolkit to help you set up a no cold calling zone where you live.

Associated documents:

• No cold calling zone toolkit  (0.05 MB)

• Appendix A - letter to residents to set up a zone  (0.03 MB)

• Survey to residents to set up a zone  (0.04 MB)

• Appendix B - report on the need for a zone  (0.05 MB)

• Appendix C - schedule of signs in the zone  (0.04 MB)

• Appendix D - review of signs in the zone  (0.04 MB)

• Appendix E - letter to residents to review the zone  (0.03 MB)

• Survey to residents to review the zone  (0.04 MB)

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