Don't be reeled in by cold calling wet fish sellers

Trading Standards officers are advising people to be extra careful when buying from wet fish sellers, or any other sellers, that arrive unexpectedly at their doors.

Leicestershire County Council’s Trading Standards Service is issuing the advice following a complaint from a resident who bought £100 worth of fish, only to discover the fish weighed half the agreed amount.

They also reported that the boxes the goods were delivered in contained mostly fish cakes rather than smoked haddock, kippers, cod and sea bass that the seller – who left no receipt - claimed they were selling.

David Bull, Head of Leicestershire County Council’s Trading Standards Service, said: The simple message we want to get across to residents is to be very careful with cold calling traders who knock at your door. Unless you are certain you know who you are dealing with it’s best to say no thank you I do not buy from people who call door-to-door”.

Unfortunately we get many reports of people losing out to door-to-door traders, who cannot be traced after you have parted with your money.”

If you do know for certain that a fish seller is reliable, perhaps because you know the shop and you have asked them to deliver to your home, ask for an itemised list of the price, weight (if sold by weight) and species of fish purchased - and check the delivery while the seller is present.

For more on Leicestershire Trading Standards visit: www.leics.gov.uk/tradingstandards  or if you want to report a door step trader to Trading Standards contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or email  telltradingstandards@leics.gov.uk

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Media Contacts:

The latest report was from a Hinckley resident who is willing to speak to the press.

Contacts: Colin Hoskins 0116 305 7576

Keith Regan 0116 305 6533