Cold calling and “No Cold Caller Zones”

Cold Calling

"Cold calling", where traders knock on doors to offer goods or services, is legal.

Many traders who "cold call"  will be law-abiding, but many residents find it a nuisance, and it can be associated with some harmful practices, which are sometimes called "doorstep crime", such as:

• charging highly inflated prices for goods or services
• pressuring or misleading residents into unnecessary or overpriced work without time to check or compare quotes
• starting with a “cheap, quick job” that escalates into more work and rising costs
• ignoring cancellation rights and withholding key information
• distraction burglaries

Refusing to leave

It can be a criminal offence for a trader to refuse to leave someone's home when told to do so. 

You can display a notice saying "No cold calling" at your door. Anyone who ignores it can be reported to the police and Trading Standards.

A home-made sign works, but Oxfordshire residents can also request a free sticker by calling the National Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133.

Trading Standards Advice

Never agree to work or buy goods just because of a cold call. Whether it’s at your door, by phone, email, social media, or post.

• do your own research and check reviews
• get at least three written quotes for the work
• make sure you have a written contract that includes:
  • the trader's full name and contact details, and address
  • a clear description of the work.
  • timescales for completion.
  • total price
  • your cancellation rights.

Take Your Time

Think carefully before agreeing to any work. Ask yourself if you really need it and whether the price is fair. If a cold caller pressures you to make a decision on the spot, take it as a warning sign.

You're under no obligation to answer the door, and you should never let cold callers inside. If you do speak to them, keep the conversation at the door. If they refuse to leave and you feel threatened, close and lock your door and call 999 immediately.

"No Cold Calling Zones"

Some residential areas of Oxfordshire are designated as No Cold Calling Zones. These Zones can help give residents or communities the confidence to say "No" to cold callers and rogue traders, and to reduce the number of unwanted cold callers. These zones aim to make it more difficult for distraction burglars and rogue traders to operate in the area.

Council-led "No Cold Calling Zones" can only be considered in areas that meet all three criteria:

• a history of reported doorstep crime or distraction burglary
• a vulnerable population
• a clearly defined geographical area

Residents must support the zone before implementation and must be proactive in promoting the no-cold-calling message.

Advice for businesses

Cold calling is prohibited in designated No Cold Calling Zones (NCCZs). Repeated visits or refusing to leave when instructed may constitute a criminal offence and could result in enforcement action.

Businesses must check for NCCZ signs displayed on lampposts, which mark zone boundaries. Individual households may also display "No Cold Calling” notices outside these zones. These signs must be respected. Cold calling at such properties is unacceptable and may lead to investigation.

No cold-calling zones in Cherwell District

Adderbury

• Green Farm

Banbury (Easington)

• Maple Close
• Willow Road
• Poplar Close
• Sycamore Drive
• Cedar Close
• Laurel Close
• Beaconsfield Road
• Jaynes Close
• Leabrook Close
• Foxwood Close
• Elmscote Road
• St Anne’s Road
• Denchfield Road
• Lenton Road
• Timms Road
• Willoughby Road
• Larksfield Road
• Harrowby Road
• Malvern Close
• Mayfield Road
• Laburnum Grove
• Ashcroft Road
• Tudor Close
• Bar Close
• Oakland Road

Banbury (Hardwick)

• Hereford Way
• Guernsey Way
• Frensham Close
• Troika Close
• Rosedale Avenue
• Bettina Close
• Salvia Close
• Conifer Road
• Juniper Close
• Erica Close
• Harlequin Way

Twyford

• Banbury Road
• Twyford Road
• Twyford Avenue
• Twyford Grove
• Margaret Road
• Rawlins Close
• Griffin Close
• The Crescent
• Kemps Road
• Rochester Way
• Walton Avenue
• The Rise
• Deene Close

Bicester

• Wadham Close
• Keble Road
• Nuffield Close
• Hertford Close

Finmere

• Fullwell Road
• Stable Close
• Valley Road
• Chinales Close
• Mere Road
• Mere Lane

Fringford

• Church Lane
• Church Close

No cold-calling zones in West Oxfordshire District

Chipping Norton

• Walterbush Road
• Withers Way

Woodstock

• Vermont Drive
• Vanbrugh Close
• Rosamund Drive
• Mavor Close
• Westland Way

Witney

• Wadards Meadow
• St Mary's Mead
• Hoyle Close

Burford

• Cheatle Close
• Church Lane
• Frethern Close
• Oxford Road.
• Windrush Close
• Windrush Court
• Witney Street (even numbers only from 44 to 78)
• Wysdom Way

No cold-calling zones in Oxford

Cutteslowe

• Hawksmoor Road
• Wyatt Road
• Jackson Road
• Carlton Road
• Wolsey Road
• Southdale Road
• Cavendish Road
• Buckfield Road
• Scott Road
• Wren Road
• Wentworth Road
• Aldrich Road
• Salisbury

Wolvercote

• Godstow Road
• Rawson Close
• Goose Green Close
• Millway Close
• Churchill Place
• Mere Road
• First Turn
• Sheriffs Drive
• Fairlawn End
• Wolvercote Green
• Osborne Close
• Dove House Close
• St Peter’s Road
• Pixey Place
• Ulfgar Road
• Elmthorpe Road
• Rosamund Road
• Clifford Place
• Home Close
• Rowland Close
• Meadow Prospect
• Mill Road
• Webb’s Close

New Marston

• Moody Road
• Peacock Road
• Prichard road
• Ferry Road
• Edgeway Road
• Hugh Allen Crescent
• Purcell Road
• Nicholson Road
• Parry Close
• Weldon Road
• Norham Manor Gardens
• Norham Gardens
• Crick Road
• Bradmore Road
• Norham Road
• Fyfield Road
• Benson Place

No cold-calling zones in the Vale of the White Horse District

Abingdon

• Shelley Close

Wantage (Grove)

• Bridge Farm Close
• Mill Lane
• Cane Lane
• Ashdown Way
• Sharland Close
• Mandhill Close
• Mainstreet
• Kingfishers
• Miles Drive
• Laurel Crescent
• Hawthorn Crescent
• Floral Close
• Mayfeild Avenue
• Cherry Tree Close
• St Ives Road
• Bosley’s Orchard
• School Lane
• Old Mill Close
• Easterfield
• Vale Avenue
• Caudwell Close
• Glebe Gardens
• Harlington Avenue
• St John’s Road
• Vicarage Close
• Meadow Close
• Linden Crescent
• Minns Road
• Mayfield Avenue
• Shannon Close
• Howard Avenue
• Collinsmith Drive
• Godfreys Close
• Oxford Lane
• North Drive

Wantage (Ormond Road)

• Chainhill Road (up to entrance of Alfredstone Place)
• Alfredstone Place
• Three Pigeons Close
• Ormond Road (Between Fire Station and junction with Wallingford Street)
• Orchard Way
• Chandlers Close
• Trinder Road
• Icknield Lane
• Mayfield
• Partridge Close

Watchfield

• Abbey Road
• Axis Road
• Barrington Avenue
• Barrington Road
• Chapel Hill
• Eagle Lane
• Faringdon Road
• Folly Cresent
• High Street
• Hill Road
• Ironside Drive
• Latimer Drive
• Maidens Close
• Meadow Road
• North Street
• Oak Road
• Oxford Square
• Pilgrims Close
• Roman Walk
• Saxon Orchard
• Scholar Close
• Short Street
• Shute Avenue
• South Street
• Squires Road
• Star Lane
• The Mews

Shrivenham

• Alexander Way
• Beckett Avenue
• Berens Road
• Bower Green
• Canon’s Hill Gardens
• Catherine Close
• Chaplewick Close
• Charlbury Road
• Charlotte Close
• Chestnut Gardens
• Church Walk
• Claypits Lane
• Cleycourt Road
• Colton Road
• Common Close
• Compton Road
• Constantine Close
• Cowleaze Close
• Cox’s Road
• Curtis Road
• Damson Trees
• Day’s Ground
• Fairthorne Way
• Faringdon Road
• Farleigh Road
• Forrest Close
• Friars Close
• Glebe Close
• Hadrian Close
• Hazells Lane
• High Street
• Highworth Road
• Lake Road
• Longcot Road
• Manor Close
• Manor Lane
• Martens Close
• Martens Road
• Medlar Road
• Mortree Court
• Northford Close
• Park Avenue
• Pennyhooks
• Queen's Crescent
• Roman Way
• Salop Close
• Sandhill
• Sandy Lane
• Springfield Close
• Stainswick Lane
• Stallpits Lane
• Stallpits Road
• Station Cottages
• Station Road
• Stonefield Close
• Sywell Road
• The Green
• Trajan Road
• Townsend Road
• Vicarage LaneWest End Road
• Youghal Close

Faringdon

• Coxwell Gardens

Radley

• Pebble Hill

Bourton

• Clayfield
• Steppington Lane
• Avenue Road
• The Hill
• The Grove
• Hunters Piece
• Silver Street

No cold-calling zones in South Oxfordshire District

Didcot

• King Alfred Drive
• Edinburgh Drive
• Bosley’s Orchard

Henley on Thames

• Harpsden Way
• Gainsborough Crescent
• Gainsborough Road
• Gainsborough Hill

Little Milton

• Church Hill
• High Street
• Thame Road
• Old Field
• Chiltern View
• Haseley Road
• Gold Street
• Blenheim Road

Wallingford

• Hawthorn Close

Setting up your own zone or reporting an incident

If you want advice regarding setting up a No cold calling zone then please contact Trading Standards.