Cold callers selling mobility aids, beds and mattresses – 16 May 2012
Norfolk County Council Trading Standards, Adult Social Care and Norfolk Police have received several reports of cold callers in the King’s Lynn area selling mobility aids, beds and mattresses. These traders may be moving onto other areas of Norfolk in the future.

The items sold tend to be cheap inferior products and are sold at inflated prices. In some cases the items are sold on a long term lease agreement which consumers believe are hire purchase agreements. This means the consumer would be paying monthly rental charges for many years.

The callers are also claiming to be representatives of or connected to either the NHS or Social Services, it is extremely doubtful that these cold callers have any connection with either organisation.

Trading Standards advises all residents to be very wary of any offer made during a cold call and not to buy items or commit to visits if you are approached this way.

If you have received one of these cold calls and need further advice contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline via their online reporting form or telephone 08454 04 05 06

Email Scam – 16 May 2012Norfolk Trading Standards are warning residents to be cautious after a Suffolk woman received an email allegedly from the Metropolitan police claiming that her computer had been used inappropriately and had been frozen. The laptop would not respond to any commands once the e-mail had been opened. The message asked her to pay £100 in Ukash vouchers for the computer to work properly again. The victim did this but realised that the email was not genuine.

The Police or other agencies would not contact people in this manner or ask for money.

To read more about this scam click here to visit the East Anglian Daily Times Website

If you receive a scam call like this you can report it to Action Fraud via their online fraud reporting tool or to Citizens Advice consumer helpline via their online reporting form

Warning to 76,000 people targeted by fraudsters – 1 May 2012Norfolk County Council Trading Standards has been contacted by a King’s Lynn resident who was suspicious about a letter they had received from ‘FSA’. However enquiries show that the letter is genuine.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is contacting more than 76,000 people to warn them that their name and contact details appear on a list being used by fraudsters.

As part of an ongoing investigation they found several lists with names, addresses and contact details of people they believe may be targeted by fraudsters offering unauthorised investment services in the UK. The offer may be to buy or sell shares, or purchase a plot of land, but it is a scam and investors are likely to lose their money.

By sending letters and emails to 76,732 people over the next six weeks – in a campaign known as ‘Operation Bexley’ – they hope to warn people of the risks of investing before they are ripped off.

Further information about ‘Operation Bexley’ and investment scams can be found on the Financial Services Authority website. If you want to discuss an investment scam, you can call the Operation Bexley Helpline on 0845 155 6355.

Driver Training Courses – 30 April 2012Norfolk Trading Standards are warning people to take care when signing up to driver training courses.  A Norfolk resident paid £2995 for a driver training course and guaranteed work when the course has been completed.  However, the training course has not been provided.

When booking any courses always:

• Make sure you check the course is suitable.
• Ask to see sample course materials, request references from satisfied trainees, and if a qualification is the selling point, check the course is accredited with the relevant body.
• Find out as much as you can about the course provider and make sure you have basic information like their address and landline phone number – check these are genuine before you go any further.
• Check up on their promises and take your time before you sign up for a course.  Read any contract carefully and insist on time to think about it before signing anything or handing over money.
• Check written details of the cost of the course and your cancellation rights.

If you receive a scam call like this you can report it to Action Fraud via their online fraud reporting tool or to Citizens Advice consumer helpline via their online reporting form

A planning application has been made and can be examined at  PF/12/0479 the supporting documents are at PLANS. - you may need to be patient waiting for this page to open at NNDC.

The Parish Council responded by Friday 18 May. We objected to the plans as the proposed building would have been over dominant to the neighbouring cottages and the red brick construction was not appropriate in the conservation area.

The planning application has been withdrawn,