Door to door selling

If you are going to sell door to door only, then you need a pedlars certificate which is issued by the police.

A pedlars certificate is a certificate that allows a person to sell goods (usually trinkets, household goods and other hand made objects) door to door going from place to place. The "pedlar" cannot remain in one place and sell items; a pedlar goes to their customers to sell items rather than allow customers to come to them. If you do want to remain in one place, on a street for example then you would require a street trader's licence, which you obtain from your local council (details below).

A pedlars certificate is obtained from the chief of police from the area where you live. You need to attend at your local police station with two forms of identification, one with a photograph and the other showing an address where you have lived at for at least 28 days within the district you are applying for the licence. You must be aged over 17 to apply for a certificate.

The police need this information to check your identity and that you are of good character before issuing a certificate. The cost of the licence is currently £12.25.

Please note that having a pedlars certificate is in no way an indication that the goods for sale are of merchantable quality.

You need an application form from your local council. The form will ask for your name, address, date of birth, the street in which you wish to trade (a plan must be attached), days and times you will be trading, description of goods you will be trading, description of stall or any other object used in connection with trading, details of any previous convictions and they will more than likely want to know if you have been refused a street trader licence before. If you are selling food you need to be licensed from your local council.

Also, it is more than likely that you will have to send in with the form some passport photographs and a deposit.

You do not need this type of licence if you are:

• trading as a pedlar;
• a market trader operating at a licensed venue;
• a news vendor selling only newspapers;
• selling coal, coke or other solid fuels derived therefrom; or
• selling milk.

It is always advisable to use a chain or peephole before answering the door to anyone that you do not know.

If there is a person claiming to be from the electricity/gas/water company then they will have official ID and if they are genuine will have no problems with you looking at it and telephoning the company to verify it if you are still not happy. Look the telephone number up yourself; do not use a telephone number they give you as you cannot be sure that it is genuine.

If you have any doubts whatsoever then do not let them in. It is better to be safe than sorry. You can always then telephone the company and make an arrangement for another day.

If it is a person who wants to carry out some work on your garden/drive/roof and they make a cold call to your house then be very wary. Before having any major work done on your house, you need at least two or three quotes from different reputable companies.

If the person gives you a price that is too good to be true then it will be. There have been cases of people carrying out the job and then demanding more money.

There are also cases of the workman offering to drive the person down to the bank to get the money, which is often at a massively inflated price.

Local council building control can advise on building contractors on an "approved list". Also Trading Standards can advise on other contractors (eg burglar alarm installers). Also trade associations often have list of "registered" businesses. Plus ask the "workman" a the door for card, website address, names and addresses of local premises where he/she has undertaken work (and contact one or two of them to verify personally).

Some people who offer to carry out such tasks are genuine but there are those that are not and will take advantage of people, mainly the vulnerable and the elderly. It is advisable not to allow any workmen to carry out any tasks in your home unless they have been personally recommended to you.