PEOPLE & PLACES

Warwickshire County Council

Trading Standards

have been alerted to the re-emergence of a telephone cold calling scam involving the sale of extended warranties. Consumers have reported receiving hoax calls from businesses who falsely claim they either are, or are affiliated to, SKY TV. The callers are high pressure sales people who use prepared sales scripts to encourage consumers to take out extended and often expensive warranties for their Sky TV digital equipment.

The businesses have no connection to SKY TV, but use opening phrases such as "I'm calling about your SKY TV service" or "I'm calling because your SKY warranty is due for renewal" to make consumers think they are calling on behalf of SKY. In fact they are trying to sell their own extended warranty products. Some may even falsely call themselves 'Sky Protect', (Sky's own genuine extended warranty protection plan) in order to mislead consumers and get a sale. The callers then ask for your bank account details or in some cases your debit card details to set up withdrawals from your account. Consumers have reported difficulty in stopping these withdrawals once they begin.

The callers don't always know if you have SKY before they phone: their calls are generally random. The extended warranty costs charged by these companies can range from £50 per year to over £170. Monthly direct debits are often set up. Trading Standards Officers advise consumers to consider carefully the cost of any extended warranty against the cost of replacing the item yourself if anything went wrong. Officers also strongly advises consumers never to provide their personal or financial information to anyone who cold calls. If you think a call is genuine, ask to phone the business back on a publicly listed telephone number (for example listed in the telephone directory).

SKY makes it clear on their website that the only extended warranty cover they offer is Sky Protect, provided by Domestic and General Services Ltd. However, Trading Standards Officers understand that some hoax callers may claim they are Sky Protect when they are not. Consumers wishing to complain should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.

Famed for his batting, former England International cricketer, Chris Broad, once again took to the stage. Yet this time, he was at the local village cricket club of Wellesbourne, Warwickshire as he opened the club's new net facilities.

The quaint village of Wellesbourne has become familiar with some famous cricketing faces, including, 1987 Ashes winners Chris Broad, Philip De Freitas and Gladstone Small, and 2011 Ashes winner and newly announced T20 Captain, Stuart Broad.

Yet, other than the peaceful surroundings and Cotswold beauty, what exactly is the attraction to Wellesbourne and their little cricket hut? The answer Chris & Stuart Broad’s 6-a-side Tournament, which will be back on Sunday 17th July after the great success of 2010, as cricketers past and present join together to raise funds and awareness for Motor Neurone Disease after Chris’ wife, Miche, lost her battle with the disease last year.

Chris & Stuart Broad’s 6-a-side tournament is a real family day out, with plenty of entertainment on and off the pitch, offering everyone the opportunity to watch former international players in action and even the chance to meet the sporting legends in the VIP enclosure.

Wellesbourne cricket club chairman, Phil Rothwell said, “It’s a privilege to be hosting the 6-a-side tournament again and as you can imagine we are all very excited to see what the cricketing line-up will be this year.”

The community spirit and support provided by Wellesbourne have not gone unnoticed, as Chris said: “It’s a pleasure to be opening these nets for a club with such community spirit and who have supported our plight in raising money and awareness for Motor Neurone Disease. These fantastic new facilities will help the club's aspiring cricketers to improve their game.”

To find out more about the Chris & Stuart Broad’s 6-a-side Tournament, and get involved visit www.TheBroadAppeal.org .

I would like to say thank you to everyone who voted for me on 6th May: I won the election with a clear majority. It was a fantastic result on a scale that meant a great deal to me personally. I would also like to thank David Close who worked for many years to improve this community and I know he will continue to do so from the Parish Council.

This victory is a celebration of ideas, signifying renewal, as well as change. I recognise that there are great challenges before me as your new District Councillor, but they are ones that I do not shrink from. Indeed I welcome and relish this new chance to help improve our village for the future of our community.

In the weeks since the election I have started my work to ensure that Wellesbourne’s key priorities are achieved. Although the tasks before our community are difficult, I am convinced that good headway is already being made towards re-launching Wellesbourne Sports & Community Centre and possible sources of new funding are being identified to start improving our village’s youth facilities.

I am confident that, in time all Wellesbourne’s key priorities can and will be delivered. Thank you

Cllr Danny Kendall, Tel 01789 841237 Email: danny@dannykendall.co.uk

Chris Broad opens the Wellesbourne nets with club Chair Phil Rothwell and President Richard Hayden.

July 2011 page six