Our advice

• Don't make instant decisions. Wait until you've seen all the details in writing.
• If you think you're being called from overseas, don't buy. It'll be almost impossible to track them down if something goes wrong.
• Watch what you say. In several cases we investigated, consumers' recollections of what they agreed to were wrong.
• Keep records. Note the date of the call, the telemarketer's details, the conditions of the sale and any promises made by the telemarketer.
• Make sure you can return goods if you find them unsatisfactory, find out the time period and who'll pay the postage.
• Choose to be billed instead of paying upfront. That way, you'll get to see the goods before you pay. If you can't do that, pay by credit card - if there's a problem, you might be able to get a chargeback.
• If you're caught out by misleading or aggressive marketing, don't pay the bill. Contact the company immediately to seek a refund.
• If you find it hard to stand up to aggressive callers, get an answerphone or messaging service. It will screen your calls and you only need to respond to the ones you want. It's a small cost for peace of mind.
• Use the NZ Marketing Association Name Removal Service (See What can you do?)

Spotting scams

Telemarketing is a haven for scam operators. Often, they call from overseas, meaning they're almost impossible to trace when things go wrong. Scam callers usually stick to tried-and-true methods, including:

• Saying you've won a prize but you have to send money to get it.
• Asking for your bank account number.
• Claiming you'll make huge profits with no risk.
• Refusing to send information before you buy.
• Offering you work from home and then asking for your details.

Don't sign up to anything over the phone. Take time to think about it, and remember: if the deal they're offering sounds too good to be true, assume it is. Never give your bank details over the phone.

Scam callers can be relentless, even after you've warned them not to call again. If you are sure a caller is promoting a scam contact the Commerce Commission or even the police. An extreme step would be to change your phone number.

See our Scams resource for more information and our advice on Avoiding fake offers.

More help

• NZ Marketing Association 0800 347 328 for general enquiries.
• Privacy Commissioner 0800 803 909
• Commerce Commission 0800 943 600
• Ministry of Consumer Affairs: www.scamwatch.govt.nz