Doorstep selling legislation needs to be updated to combat the psychological tactics employed by many salespeople, the Office of Fair Trading has argued.

Government Response: Department of Trade and Industry

Consumer and competition minister Gerry Sutcliffe said: "Doorstep selling can be a convenient way of shopping - from cosmetics and household cleaners to garden services. But it is also an area that raises some serious concerns about the way goods are sold and the problem of bogus callers and crime. That is why I called for a cross departmental group of ministers to see how we can best tackle these issues.

"I welcome the OFT's Report and will be considering its recommendations in detail over the coming weeks. We will consult thoroughly on any proposed changes to the law."

Forum Response: National Consumer Council 

Diane Gaston, head of corporate affairs at the National Consumer Council (NCC) said: "This report exposes how vulnerable people are when dealing with doorstep sellers - invited or not. So we welcome the OFT’s proposals to improve consumer protection in this area.

"NCC especially supports the proposal to extend the cooling-off period to cover all doorstep selling, and to reinforce these new cancellation rights with prominent information on sales literature. The law should be changed as a matter of urgency."

Forum Response: Energy Retail Association