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Safety and Security Centre

How to Avoid Canvassing Calls

Some companies have been found to have numerous addresses and have proved very difficult to track down when trying to complain.

You should NEVER hand money over to canvassers over the phone.

Auto Trader has been contacted by a number of users who are concerned about canvas telephone calls they have received while advertising a car on autotrader.co.uk.

Auto Trader wants to make clear it does not pass any customer information on to these companies and that it does not work in partnership with companies of this nature in any way.

There are various companies of this nature operating and they generally contact car sellers by telephone after seeing their adverts in classified magazines or online.

You should NEVER hand money over to canvassers over the phone.

These companies try to persuade the car seller to advertise with them for a fixed fee and some promise that they have a number of buyers on their database who are waiting to buy their car and offer to refund the fee if the car does not sell.

Customers have reported they have been called repeatedly by the same company in a bid to wear the seller down until they offer their credit card details, sometimes calling up to six times a day.

Unfortunately in many cases the promised buyers do not materialise and neither does the promised refund. When sellers have later checked the companies’ websites they have found the firms’ terms and conditions state refunds will not be given under any circumstances. Some companies have been found to have numerous addresses and have proved very difficult to track down when trying to complain.

If you feel you have been treated unfairly by one of these companies get in touch with your local Trading Standards office and lodge a complaint. It may be possible for your credit card company to help you if you complain you haven’t received the service you were promised, so ensure you ring them as well.

AutoTrader.co.uk Business Offer Scam

Auto Trader has been alerted to individuals claiming they’re from Auto Trader and are recruiting people to canvass for them.
This is a scam. Don’t give them your bank details.

They may be providing accurate information which they have taken from the Auto Trader website but the job opportunity doesn’t exist and we have NO affiliation with them.

Auto Trader will never ask for your bank details by email.

If you are concerned or have been affected by this, please contact our customer service line on: 0845 345 3450.

Visit our sell safe page for essential advice on how to avoid scams.

You can also go to Consumer Direct for more legal information.

Auto Trader is not responsible for the content of external websites.