Barford Bypass Tarmac Scam
Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards are warning that a tarmac gang is operating door to door in Warwick and the surrounding area, claiming to be working on the Barford Bypass project.
The itinerant traders are claiming to be labourers and engineers from the site who have been sent out to dispose of unused tarmac.
Warwickshire Trading Standards Officers are warning it is not the usual procedure for the Council or its contractors to sell surplus material to the members of the public, and anybody claiming to be from the Council and offering to tarmac their drives should be treated with extreme caution.
Further, the Trading Standards Service has been advised by contractors at the site that no tarmac work is being undertaken at this time.
Mark Ryder, Head of Warwickshire Trading Standards said:
“It is our experience that these gangs often charge high prices for poor workmanship. It can be very difficult to tell a good trader from a bad one on the doorstep and householders may be better to simply keep their door closed.”
Itinerant tarmac gangs often operate door to door, or use printed flyers dropped through residents letterboxes. These individuals can be extremely persuasive.
Low prices are often quoted, but as the work starts the price often rises.
The work will normally be done immediately, before the householder changes their mind, and very often any information provided by the workmen, including names, addresses, and telephone numbers will be false, making them very hard to trace.
In most cases the work is done to a very poor standard, leaving the owner facing a second bill to have the work done properly.
Top Tips
· Don’t be forced in to making a quick decision on the doorstep and never employ the first person who come to your door or puts a flyer through your letterbox.
· If you want work doing, get at least three quotes from local reputable companies who have reputations to maintain, and if possible seek recommendations.
· Only deal with local firms with genuine verifiable telephone numbers and addresses. Beware of companies that only use mobile phone numbers, and accommodation addresses.
· Finally, our best advice would be that if you don’t want to speak to the person, don’t open your door to them. It can be hard to distinguish the good traders from the cowboys; it might be easier to keep the door closed. Do not allow uninvited callers into your home.
To make a consumer complaint phone: 08454 04 05 06.
For more information and advice, visit our website: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/consumeradvice