Friday, July 27, 2007
Burglar Alarms Warning
Dear Friends, I have had the following from Maldon Police
We have had reports from members of the public about receiving phone calls from a telesales canvassing representative working on behalf of security company mentioning that they are working with a very well known Securicor Company and persons have been selected to be contacted to receive an alarm system free of charge. The telesales persons have also been mentioning that they are doing this in conjunction with the Police and the Fire Brigade and making appointments for a representative to call on the householder who would appear to be a Security Surveyor to carry out a product demonstration and complete a risk assessment.
THE ALARMS ARE SUPPOSEDLY FREE OF CHARGE BUT THE HOUSEHOLDER HAS TO PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION.
They are inferring that the alarm will connected straight through to the police. THIS IS NOT SO.
In the report received at Maldon the Informant stated the telesales rep stated that were given suitable 10 Maldon addresses by the police to be contacted. THIS IS NOT SO AS THE POLICE WOULD NOT GIVE OUT THIS INFORMATON.
There is a mixed cross section of householders being contacted who are both elderly and younger. An elderly couple who were contacted in Maldon were not given the chance to refuse an appointment for a Security representative to call on them, and they were not asked if they would like a family member or a neighbour to be present. However, they did receive a second phone call to confirm the appointment and told the operator that they had reported them to the police and the operator immediately cut off, in which case no representative turned up on the time and date appointed.
THERE IS NO CRIMINAL OFFENCE BUT THE TELESALES REPS, IN THIS CASE, ARE USING PRESSURISED SELLING TECHNIQUES TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS SO A SECURITY REPRESENTATIVE CAN CALL ON HOUSEHOLDERS AND PERSUADE THEM TO HAVE A SECURITY SYSTEM THEY DON’T WANT AND IN SOME CASES MAKING THE MORE VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDERS (THE ELDERLY) PAY OUT MONEY THEY CANNOT AFFORD.
Further to the above
Ray Stannard (CRO) has done some research and we have been faxed a letter that has been sent to Police Headquarters, stating that a Security Company are advising Police of their current marketing activity within the Essex County District. They stating they are a reputable installations organisation that is SSAIB (Security System Alarm Inspection Board) registered and adhere to all industry and ACPO guidelines. They work extensively with the well known company mentioned above & all their systems are connected to the well known company’s Control Room. They stated in their letter that their campaign is concerned with public awareness of monitored alarm systems that can qualify for police response. The initial approach to householders is via a telemarketing office. They are supposed to introduce themselves and state the purpose of their call and not oversell the product and only make an appointment if a householder has expressed an interest. If the householder is an elderly person they say that they invite the householder to have a family member or a neighbour in attendance. They also say that they don’t oversell on the phone.
Unfortunately with respect to the above reports that have been received by Maldon Police, persons receiving the calls have felt under pressure from the telesales persons to make an appointment, and the information stated about the connection to the Police and how their details have been obtained has not been correct.
WE THEREFORE RECOMMEND THAT SHOULD A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC HAVE ANY DOUBTS AND ARE NOT HAPPY OVER THE VALIDITY OR THE LEGALITY OF SALES TECHNIQUES USED THAT THEY SHOULD CONTACT POLICE OR TRADING STANDARDS /CONSUMER DIRECT ON 08454 040506
SOA 7891
Maldon Police Station
X62135
We have had reports from members of the public about receiving phone calls from a telesales canvassing representative working on behalf of security company mentioning that they are working with a very well known Securicor Company and persons have been selected to be contacted to receive an alarm system free of charge. The telesales persons have also been mentioning that they are doing this in conjunction with the Police and the Fire Brigade and making appointments for a representative to call on the householder who would appear to be a Security Surveyor to carry out a product demonstration and complete a risk assessment.
THE ALARMS ARE SUPPOSEDLY FREE OF CHARGE BUT THE HOUSEHOLDER HAS TO PAY FOR THE INSTALLATION.
They are inferring that the alarm will connected straight through to the police. THIS IS NOT SO.
In the report received at Maldon the Informant stated the telesales rep stated that were given suitable 10 Maldon addresses by the police to be contacted. THIS IS NOT SO AS THE POLICE WOULD NOT GIVE OUT THIS INFORMATON.
There is a mixed cross section of householders being contacted who are both elderly and younger. An elderly couple who were contacted in Maldon were not given the chance to refuse an appointment for a Security representative to call on them, and they were not asked if they would like a family member or a neighbour to be present. However, they did receive a second phone call to confirm the appointment and told the operator that they had reported them to the police and the operator immediately cut off, in which case no representative turned up on the time and date appointed.
THERE IS NO CRIMINAL OFFENCE BUT THE TELESALES REPS, IN THIS CASE, ARE USING PRESSURISED SELLING TECHNIQUES TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS SO A SECURITY REPRESENTATIVE CAN CALL ON HOUSEHOLDERS AND PERSUADE THEM TO HAVE A SECURITY SYSTEM THEY DON’T WANT AND IN SOME CASES MAKING THE MORE VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDERS (THE ELDERLY) PAY OUT MONEY THEY CANNOT AFFORD.
Further to the above
Ray Stannard (CRO) has done some research and we have been faxed a letter that has been sent to Police Headquarters, stating that a Security Company are advising Police of their current marketing activity within the Essex County District. They stating they are a reputable installations organisation that is SSAIB (Security System Alarm Inspection Board) registered and adhere to all industry and ACPO guidelines. They work extensively with the well known company mentioned above & all their systems are connected to the well known company’s Control Room. They stated in their letter that their campaign is concerned with public awareness of monitored alarm systems that can qualify for police response. The initial approach to householders is via a telemarketing office. They are supposed to introduce themselves and state the purpose of their call and not oversell the product and only make an appointment if a householder has expressed an interest. If the householder is an elderly person they say that they invite the householder to have a family member or a neighbour in attendance. They also say that they don’t oversell on the phone.
Unfortunately with respect to the above reports that have been received by Maldon Police, persons receiving the calls have felt under pressure from the telesales persons to make an appointment, and the information stated about the connection to the Police and how their details have been obtained has not been correct.
WE THEREFORE RECOMMEND THAT SHOULD A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC HAVE ANY DOUBTS AND ARE NOT HAPPY OVER THE VALIDITY OR THE LEGALITY OF SALES TECHNIQUES USED THAT THEY SHOULD CONTACT POLICE OR TRADING STANDARDS /CONSUMER DIRECT ON 08454 040506
SOA 7891
Maldon Police Station
X62135
# posted by Evelyn @ 12:30 PM 
