Trading Standards Officers in Cornwall are urging people to stay safe in their own homes by saying a firm “no” to cold calling doorstep traders.

Monday marked the beginning of the Trading Standards Institute’s (TSI) annual National Consumer Week with the message 'cold calling – don't buy it' the key message.

Officers from Cornwall are backing the national campaign to close the door on rogue traders and help end the heartache and financial loss that can be caused by unscrupulous cold callers, who often target the elderly and vulnerable.

More than 10,000 complaints are made about cold calling doorstep traders every year, but this is likely to only be the tip of the iceberg – we know victims are often embarrassed and frightened as many incidents will go unreported.

As part of the campaign, Cornwall Trading Standards Officers will have stands at supermarkets in the mornings throughout the week to talk about doorstep selling:

• Tuesday - Sainsburys, Truro

• Wednesday - Tesco, Penzance

• Thursday - Morrisons, Bodmin

• Friday - Sainsburys,Torpoint

Trading Standards will be targeting high risk areas in the county to provide leaflets on the subject.

Elizabeth Kirk, from Trading Standards said: "Every day Trading Standards officers up and down the country are dealing with cold callers targeting vulnerable consumers for expensive, unnecessary and badly done home maintenance work.

"Our message is clear: we think that there is only one way consumers can really stay safe from rogues in their own homes, and that is by saying ‘no’ to cold calling doorstep traders.

“With our Cold Calling – Don’t Buy It campaign, we want to raise awareness, particularly with our more vulnerable consumers that they should never buy anything from someone calling at their front door.”

If you are concerned about doorstep sellers and want advice, please contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 08454 04 05 06 or visit our website at www.cornwall.gov.uk/tradingstandards