The Celebration Of The Launch Of Norfolk’s 200th No Cold Calling Zone
A celebration on Thursday 6th December marked the launch of Norfolk’s 200th No Cold Calling Zone (NCCZ) as people who live in the Norwich Housing Society’s Lanchester Court gathered for tea and cake. The new zone takes in all the 301 homes owned by the Norwich Housing Society across nine sites in the city and means that everyone living there will be better protected against rogue traders.
Cllr Margaret Dewsbury, Chairman of Norfolk County Council’s Communities Committee, said: “This is the largest single addition ever to Norfolk’s No Cold Calling Zones and means the number of homes now within a NCCZ in Norfolk is approaching 10,000. This is something I’m very pleased to see as these zones are a great practical way for residents to take a stand against doorstep scams and unscrupulous traders.
“No Cold Calling Zones can help to keep some of our most vulnerable friends, relatives and neighbours safe so I’d urge anyone who thinks a zone may be a good idea in their street or local community to get in touch with our Trading Standards team. We can offer help and support in getting a new zone off the ground and supply signs to be put up in the neighbourhood and stickers for everyone’s doors. We also continue to support established zones and will follow up on all reported incidents of cold calling.”
No Cold Calling Zones allow householders to look out for each other as the scheme comes with good advice about how to deal with anyone who turns up uninvited on the doorstep and attempts to sell a product or service. The scheme gives householders the confidence to say ‘no’ if cold callers do show up and makes it clear to rogue traders that they are not welcome and are likely to be reported to Trading Standards if they do call at homes in the zone.
Sarah Batchelor, Senior Scheme Manager, Norwich Housing Society, said:"This is a great day for the residents of Lanchester Court, and all our other residents who live with Norwich Housing Society around the city, as all of our schemes now have signs up declaring them to be No Cold Calling Zones.
"I got involved with Friends Against Scams some time ago, I was moved and appalled to hear about the damage it does to people that were scammed. I trained as a Scamchampion with Trading Standards and delivered their information about being scam aware to our residents at events around the city along with training all our staff so they know what to look out for when visiting our residents. We then signed up to the No Cold Calling Zones scheme to help further protect our residents.
"Norwich Housing Society is also excited to be able join Norfolk County Council Trading Standards with their Charter initiative Norfolk Against Scams Partnership (NASP), we are proud to be working alongside such dedicated people, to help stamp out these criminals from Norfolk."
Residents who want to enquire about whether their road or street meets the criteria to become a No Cold Calling Zone can visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/nccz or call 0344 800 8020 and ask for an application pack.