16/8/2004 - Travelling furniture sellers target Cumbria again!

Cumbria county council’s Trading Standards unit is warning members of the public to be on the lookout for dealers offering "Leather Look" 3 piece suites from the back of a van.

The cream coloured suites, wrapped in thick plastic, are sold from unmarked white vans. Often unsuspecting purchasers are not given the chance to examine the suites prior to purchase. Only when the van has left, the purchaser discovers that they have bought a cheap poor quality suite.

In the past suites like this have been sold for between £200 and £500. When receipts have been given, sometimes the contact details were fictitious and the suppliers were untraceable. On several occasions the suites did not comply with safety regulations.

Phil Ashcroft, the county council's Head of Trading Standards, says, "Once again, unsuspecting people are being targeted by doorstep salesmen. We want to warn consumers that these suites may be dangerous and urge them not to put them in their family home".