Fed-up locals spurn door-to-door sales

Rotorua Citizens Advice Bureau co-ordinator Jane Eynon-Richards with the stickers they are handing out to deter door-to-door sellers from approaching homes. Photo / Ben Fraser

A campaign is under way to try to prevent door-to-door salespeople taking advantage of Rotorua's most vulnerable.

Consumer NZ launched the initiative nationwide yesterday, with the Rotorua Citizens Advice Bureau distributing free stickers saying "Do Not Knock" in a bid to deter the sellers.

Bureau co-ordinator Jane Eynon-Richards said they had at least two to three complaints reported to them each week.

"There's some really unscrupulous door-to-door sales people out there and we've seen them target areas like Murupara and certain parts of Rotorua," Mrs Eynon-Richards said.

"They are targeting people with bad credit ratings and beneficiaries, selling anything from widescreen TVs [to] tablets, beds, furniture.

"They are selling people televisions that could probably be bought at The Warehouse for $300, and people have to make 26 payment instalments before they're allowed to have them, and end up paying around $900 to $1000. We have rung [the sellers] on behalf of our clients to try and cancel their contracts and the number is either constantly busy or the cancellation administration fees are really exorbitant."

Mrs Eynon-Richards said the problem was becoming more common.

"The last two years, we've really noticed it. When they come to us, they are pretty much at the end of their tether. They are basically at the point of needing food packages or extra help from Work and Income."

Age Concern Rotorua elder abuse and neglect prevention co-ordinator Hillary Thole said they were hosting seminars throughout the city to educate how big an issue financial abuse against older people was.

"Invariably we are the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff but we are putting a lot of education out there, like in Ngongotaha with the support of police, neighbourhood support and budget services," Mrs Thole said.

Mrs Thole said scams against the elderly were also a major problem.

"The family of one of the people in Ngongotaha reported their father lost $100,000. We had police involved and Treasure Rotorua [Rotorua's International Safe Community project] at the district council.

"With Christmas coming up, I think it's only going to get worse."

She advised older people to ask door-to-door sellers for their name and number so they could talk about it with a family member before committing to any purchase.

"Invariably they [sellers] don't want to do that," she said.

The "Do Not Knock" stickers are available from the Rotorua Citizens Advice Bureau on Haupapa St. Age Concern is also hosting a free seminar on protection against elder financial abuse at St David's Rotorua East Church on Wharenui Rd, on Thursday at 10am.