Staying Safe - Visitors
We all like getting visitors when they are people we would like to visit us. However, when they're not, we need to be more careful about how we handle them. This page is designed to look at different types of visitors and suggest things that you should and should not do to remain safe.
This page is arranged into blocks. Click on the topic area you are interested in and you will be taken to that topic. To return to the list, click the "return to top" link or use the scroll bar or mouse.
Home Help
Those people who have help cleaning their home have normally had that help for years. When they move on, there is a gap that needs to be filled. For those looking for home help for the first time the same advice applies - always employ someone who is either known to a friend or neighbour or use a reputable firm to supply the labour.
You should also check that the person you are employing has a right to work in this country as employing someone who does not have that right is illegal.
This is where the reputable firms come into their own as they will normally have their own insurance, will/should have checked on the work permit situation (either way it ceases to be your concern), and should have references from satisfied clients (ask for these).
Tradesmen
Getting hold of a reliable plumber or electrician is both easy and difficult. Difficult in that there are lots of tradesmen out there, some quite good and reliable, but which one to choose?
This is where the "easy" bit comes in. Always ask friends or neighbours for recommendations of tradesmen - you will be able to view the standard of the work that was carried out and get some idea of the down-sides to that particular tradesman (e.g. "he was a good lad but left the place very untidy" or "he drank more tea in one day than I manage in a fortnight"). If you can not get a recommendation from friends or neighbours, look for reputable firms that you have heard of or ask the local branch of the trade's organisation for some suggestions.
Whether or not you got your tradesman from recommendation, always check that the firm has the appropriate qualifications to carry out the work you need doing. For example, it is illegal for tradesmen to work on gas systems without the appropriate qualifications and this system was designed with safety in mind.
From the above it should be obvious that you should never employ tradesmen who come to the door offering to do work for you - you have no idea of their legitimacy or competence in the field they profess nor do you know if their prices are competitive. Do not employ them.
Itinerant Salesmen
Itinerant salesmen attempt to sell door to door anything (and everything) from fish and frozen food to restaurant clubs and cloths to services. What you don't know when they come to the door is whether or not the enterprise they represent really does exist. It may do (and be quite legitimate) but it may be a front to scam money off you or survey your home for ill intent. Therefore, the advice generally is not to buy from these salesmen, no matter how plausible they may appear.
If you believe or feel there is something shady about them, call the police (the non-urgent number is on the contacts page of this website).
You can find more information about rogue traders from:-
Northumbria Police - Rogue Traders
Charity Collectors
Charity collectors are often at the door asking for contributions for good causes. The causes they collect for are, normally, well known. However, not all of the charity collectors are legitimate, collecting for their own pocket rather than the cause they suggest. Genuine charity collectors will have appropriate identification from the charity concerned. If they do not or can not produce this, do not give money to them. If you suspect anything about them, ring the police (the non-urgent number is on the contacts page of this website) and contact the charity concerned directly.
You can find more information about bogus callers from:-
Northumbria Police - Bogus Callers
Meter Readers and others
People purporting to be from utility services companies (e.g. meter readers, representatives of Northumbria Water or British Gas) do call occasionally for legitimate purposes. You should always challenge them to produce their identification. If they can't/will not, don't let them in. If you are in any way concerned, ring the companiy's head office and ask whether the representative is who they purport to be and whether they have been sent to your premises. If not, don't let them in and ring the police (the non-urgent number is on the contacts page of this website).
You can find more information about bogus callers from:-