Getting tough on mobile sellers

A mobile phone giant could be fined for allowing its sales staff to accost shoppers in a Wolverhampton street.

Phones 4U employees are actively encouraged to approach potential customers walking past the store in Dudley Street. But the practice is irritating many passers-by, some of whom have reported the shop to Wolverhampton City Council.

Now the authority is looking at introducing by-laws to see if it can take action over the growing problem blighting the city's main shopping street.

Council chiefs are already trying for legislation that will see clipboard salesmen and other street sellers fined up to £500 if found harassing shoppers.

Felicity Roberts, spokeswoman for the city council, confirmed today that in the last two weeks a complaint had been received about a number of companies in Dudley Street, including Phones 4U, regarding salesmen.

"Officers are currently talking with these companies to investigate further," she added.

A 27-year-old Tettenhall woman described their method as "very annoying". "If I want a new mobile phone I will go into a shop and look for one," she added. "The city centre is bad enough with people offering insurance and catalogues without shop staff badgering people for business as well."

When the Express & Star contacted Phones 4U, the manager, who would not be named, insisted: "We are doing nothing wrong.

"Other mobile phone shops also have their staff in the street. We have checked and the council cannot take any enforcement action."

Dudley Street has become a no-go area for some shoppers who want to avoid the swarm of sales people offering the likes of credit cards and insurance claims and others collecting for charity.

Miss Roberts said the council was still hoping to bring new laws enabling it to fine aggressive sales people up to £500 for harassing people in the street.