Please can someone offer me some advice, my sister has just given her bank details to 'Oxfam' via a doorstep cold call. I NEVER give my details and refuse point blank as I am very wary of scams etc.. anyway she lives alone and felt pressured. Please can anyone tell me if I should be worried for her? Can she go to her bank tomorrow and cancel it before any money is taken out?
Assuming the visit was legit and really was on behalf of Oxfam, she has a "cooling off" period. Any contract made on the doorstep *where the tenant hasn't previously invited the company to call* is subject to laws which cover cold calling and distance selling. Off hand, I can't remember whether it's 7 or 14 days grace.
(Incidentally, a verbal agreement constitutes a contract just as a written agreement does and is as binding as a written contract - although, of course, it's harder to enforce).
*
where the tenant hasn't previously invited the company to call* for example, if you ask Bloggs & Co to come and quote for installing your new window frames and you agree on the spot to have the job done by them at £XXXX, you can't then back out if you later change your mind.