Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Great value Unlimited Broadband from an award winning provider FRI 20TH JUN 2025    12:20:36 AM BST
This site uses cookies, by continuing to use this site you accept the terms of our privacy policy
Back To Top
Caithness.Org Quick Links
Home
Construction
Leisure
Manufacturing
Misc.
Primary
Professional
Public
Retail
Tourism
Transport
Site Map
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Feed 2.0 Loading...

Highland Residents Beware Of Free Home Alarm Offers

6th July 2010

Highland residents warned to be on guard against free home alarm offers

Highland Council Trading Standards are warning all residents to be on their guard when answering 'cold-call' telephone sales calls offering a 'free home fire and security survey', if they agree to a home visit by sales staff.

This warning follows on from previous warnings by Trading Standards as a result of firms continuing to target elderly and vulnerable consumers in the Highland area. Consumers are advised, to shop around for a home/fire safety alarm system, locally, before agreeing to a home visit.

Previously firms have promised 'free installation' or a 'free alarm' as incentives for allowing sales staff to visit them at home, to carry out a survey. However, more recently, consumers have contacted Highland Trading Standards, with their concerns stating that they are now being offered a 'free home security and fire safety survey visit' to see if their home is eligible for a 'free alarm system'.

With alarm systems previously been quoted as anything from �3000 to �6000 per contract this could well be a costly means for a consumer to protect their own home, especially when local alternatives are available to residents.

Highlands and Islands Fire & Rescue Service (HIFRS) are keen to point out that their own Community safety staff regularly carry out FREE home safety checks for all residents in the Highlands. Appointments can be made with householders at a pre-arranged time. All HIFRS staff wear uniforms and hold identity cards which are presented to the householder prior to the visit.

Highland residents can contact the HIFRS directly on free phone number 08000 121312 to book a FREE home safety check visit. During the visit, the householder will be given information on how to install and maintain smoke alarms, and how to stay safe from fire hazards in the home.

Northern Constabulary also offers free advice and information to all Highland residents about crime prevention and home security. Highland residents can visit the Northern Constabulary website for details on http://www.northern.police.uk/Crime-Prevention/crime-prevention.html or either visit or telephone their local police station for advice.

Highland Trading Standards, Principal Trading Standards Officer, Gordon Robb in addition to the warning to be cautious of such sales tactics, wishes to remind all consumers, who have or may be considering inviting sales people into their own home, that they do, in most cases, have a seven day cooling off period.

However, he adds: "Although consumers should be made aware of these cancellation rights by the trader, some unscrupulous traders are omitting this information. If a business fails to leave a notice of cancellation with the consumer, informing them of their rights and how to exercise these rights, then he or she is committing a criminal offence."

Highland Trading Standards warns that although consumers have the right to cancel, the address given by a business may not be a bono fide address or it may belong to an entirely different business. Mr Robb continues: "We would advise all consumers to be cautious of entering any legal contract at home and if in doubt to ask for a copy of the contract to be left with them, before they decide to sign."

Highland Council Trading Standards Service would like to hear from consumers who are concerned about cold calls they have received or the practices of salespersons who visit them at home. Consumers can contact The Highland Council, Trading Standards Service, TEC Services on 01463 228700 or by visiting or writing to: Highland Council Trading Standards, 38 Harbour Road, Inverness IV1 1UF.

For further Highland Trading Standards news please go to: www.highland.gov.uk/tradingstandardsnews

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Yesterday
Look to See - a Refugee Week exhibition by young people
As part of the Highland Council's celebration of Refugee Week - 16 to 22 June - we are delighted to announce that a sharing of photographs, taken by separated young people seeking asylum living within the Highlands, is to be shown at Eden Court Arts Centre, Inverness.   Look to See, which ties in with the theme for this year’s Refugee Week - Community as a Superpower - emerges out of a collaboration between multiple agencies working alongside separated young people seeking asylum, embodying the importance of community and connection, when looking to support all young people in the Highlands.  
12/6/2025
Highland Youth Parliament Future Youth Voice Conference
The annual Highland Youth Parliament (HYP) conference will take place at Inverness Leisure and Canal Park, Inverness on Friday (13th June 2025).   Highland young people are focusing on future youth voices and what they would like a future Highland to look like.  
12/6/2025
New business venture benefits from HOIL support - Remotely Operated Vehicles - The Future Of Underwater Operations?Thumbnail for article : New business venture benefits from HOIL support - Remotely Operated Vehicles -  The Future Of Underwater Operations?
Highland Opportunity (Investments) Limited, HOIL has recently provided Sgùrr Access and Marine Services Limited with loan assistance towards their start-up costs for a new business venture based in Kyle of Lochalsh.   HOIL, The Highland Council's business loan company offers loan support to Highland based businesses and community organisations, who can benefit from straightforward loan conditions and a tailored offer to support their project.  
12/6/2025
Freeze on cost of 2025/26 garden waste bin permitsThumbnail for article : Freeze on cost of 2025/26 garden waste bin permits
Garden Waste Permits from Highland Council are now available for the 2025/26 season.  To support continued garden waste recycling, the price for the upcoming 2025/26 permit will remain unchanged at £48.95 per permit, the same as last year.  
8/6/2025
Applications open for Education Maintenance Allowance 2025/26 - £30 per week Apply now
All eligible young people are being encouraged to apply for a weekly, term time allowance of £30 per week from August 2025.   The Highland Council administers Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in respect of eligible young people from across its 29 secondary schools.  
7/6/2025
Support secured for LGBT Veterans
Legislation has been amended to ensure veterans who receive a payment from the LGBT Financial Recognition Scheme do not lose out on council tax support.   More than 1,200 people in Scotland who served under and suffered from the ban on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) personnel serving in HM Armed Forces between 1967 and 2000 have applied to the UK Government for compensation so far.  
5/6/2025
Integrated Children Services Planning Board - Annual Update
At the Education Committee of Highland Council on Wednesday 4 June, Members were presented with the Integrated Children Services Plan Annual Report 2024/25.   The Integrated Children's Service’s work continues as it enters the 3rd year of the delivery of the Integrated Children’s Service Plan.  
5/6/2025
Education update and positive destinations for our school leavers
The Highland Council, Education Committee met today (Wednesday 4 June 2025) and received a comprehensive overview of recent developments in the Education and Learning Service.  It included positive school leaver destinations and an update on the refreshed attainment strategy and the Education and Learning management restructure.  
5/6/2025
Expanding opportunities to learn Gaelic at school
Tha comhairlichean Chomhairle na Gàidhealtachd air fàilte a chur air an obair ionmholta a thathar a' dèanamh gus cothroman a leudachadh do luchd-ionnsachaidh òga na Gàidhlig.   Aig coinneamh Chomataidh na Gàidhlig an-diugh (Diciadain 4 Ògmhios) chaidh an obair leasachaidh a thathar a’ dèanamh aig Bun-Sgoil Bhaile an Fhraoich ann an Inbhir Nis a chomharrachadh mar dheagh eisimpleir de bhith a’ cruthachadh "spiorad mhath is ion-ghabhaltach airson na Gàidhlig thar na sgoile".  
5/6/2025
Dedicated road marking team mobilised throughout the HighlandsThumbnail for article : Dedicated road marking team mobilised throughout the Highlands
Highland Council's dedicated road marking team has been fully mobilised to carry out road marking across the Highland region.  Finally after many years of depending on contractors from the south a Highland council team will be able to get on with the work regularly as weather allows.