Many local people are plagued by door-to-door salesmen. Some new ‘doorstep selling’ regulations - the Cancellation of Contracts Made in a Consumer’s Home or Place of Work etc Regulations - have now been passed by Parliament and are scheduled to come into force on 1 October 2008.

Philip Astles, a partner in Kidd Rapinet, says:

"The new Regulations give consumers the rights to cancel contracts for goods or services which are made during a visit by a trader to a consumer’s home or place of work or on an excursion organised by the trader. They are extensive in their scope and include selling of products such as patios and conservatories but not most property contracts. Any term in a contract that is inconsistent with a provision for the protection of a consumer under the Regulations is void. The regulations make it an offence for a trader to enter a contract covered by the regulations without giving the consumer a notice of the right to cancel which is set out in the regulations. Fines of up to £5000 can be imposed for breach.

Now is a good time to revise instructions to staff who engage in door to door selling or are involved in advertising. These regulations have now been agreed and on 26 May 2008 the new Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 came into force, which amounted to the biggest change to consumer and advertising law for 30 years. Unfair and aggressive advertising practices are banned.

Contact us for advice on how all these new rules affect you and your business.