Good weather heralds rise in rogue trader complaints
The good weather has heralded a rise in the number of complaints about itinerant rogue builders, gardeners and tarmac gangs Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service is warning.
Be careful of callers who offer to carry out building repairs, surface your drive, or carry out gardening work. They may have no experience or training and although low prices are often quoted, as the work starts the price often rises.
Householders can find that they are paying hundreds or even thousands of pounds more than they expected. The work will normally be done immediately, before the householder changes their mind and the standard may be very poor, leaving the owner facing a second bill to have the work done again.
These people may use false names, addresses, and telephone numbers and will often ask for money in advance – even offering to drive you to your bank or to a cash point to pay them. They could then simply disappear or do a poor job very expensively.
In the past two months Trading Standards Officers have received approximately 40 complaints relating to bogus selling, doorstep sales, and rogue traders.
In the past week one elderly resident was reported to have paid a rogue builder £11,000 in cash and blank cheques! The trader disappeared having done little or no work and left only a false name, no address, and a mobile phone number that is never answered. Another resident was tricked in to having his driveway completely re-surfaced after itinerant traders asked to dump a ‘small amount’ of concrete on his land. Those who did the job used threatening language and intimidation to try and get the consumer to pay them £8000.
Mark Ryder, Head of Warwickshire Trading Standards Service said:
"We are tackling doorstep crime by trying wherever possible to attend the homes of elderly and vulnerable people who report they are experiencing problems with rogue traders. This allows us to challenge the trader and support the consumer. We are also using our new powers to stop rogue traders ripping off consumers and we are both educating and warning the public.
"Remember doorstep criminals can be extremely persuasive and intimidating, so if you don’t want to speak to the person standing at your door, don’t open it.
It can be hard to distinguish the good traders from the cowboys; it might be easier to keep the door closed."
Trading Standards advise that if you need any building work or home improvements/repairs done:
Get a minimum of three written quotes from local traders with reputations to maintain.
Seek recommendations whenever possible.
Check the traders name and address to be sure they are who they say they are and are based at that location..
Never pay the whole amount up front, stagger the payments and avoid paying cash if possible.
And finally, if in doubt, talk it through with a friend, neighbour or someone in your family.