Residents across the Falkirk area are being urged to be on their guard from an operator who is using scare and misleading tactics to urge the purchase of Carbon Monoxide detectors.

A number of flyers have been received by households in the Stenhousemuir/Larbert area stating that ‘from the 1st October it is now the law to have fitted a CO2 (sic) detector.’

Officials urge that while it is desirable that wherever there is a combustion appliance fitted that uses gas, oil or coal to burn, it is not the law that they must have Carbon Monoxide detectors retrospectively fitted to appliances installed before 1st of October 2013.

Cllr Jim Blackwood, Falkirk Council’s spokesperson for public protection said: “This scam is aimed at misleading people, trying to convince them that they could be breaking the law when they are not.

“The leaflet is factually inaccurate mixing Carbon Monoxide (which is a silent killer gas) and Carbon Dioxide, giving everyone who reads it a very confusing picture.

‘We would urge anyone to get a Carbon Monoxide detector installed wherever possible but by not having one, you are not breaking the law.

“The message in the flyer clearly plays on the fears and emotions of everyone but they are simply using scare tactics for commercial exploitation.

“Trading Standards Officers are currently gathering intelligence and witness statements to see if there are any potential breaches of the relevant legislation.”

The law does apply from 1st of October 2013 onwards to new build properties or new heating appliances fitted from that date. Registered suppliers will already be aware of this requirement.

The leaflet (white in colour) quotes a price of £25 for the work and is headed ‘IMPORTANT NOTICE: Carbon Monoxide Detectors.’