Return of the Driveway Rogue Traders
Warwickshire County Council Trading Standard Service is warning Warwickshire residents to beware of rogue traders offering to carry out driveway improvement work.
A number of complaints have been received from Warwickshire residents who have already had poor quality driveway work carried out in the past few years and are now being re-targeted by another set of rogue traders.
These traders claim that they are aware that the original driveway company has gone out of business and that they will undertake rectification work under the original guarantee. However when pressed by a consumer, the traders admitted that they would charge for the work.
Householders are urged to be sceptical of traders if approached in this way. It is highly likely that these traders are linked to the original company and their work is likely to be of the same poor quality.
Warwickshire County Councillor Richard Hobbs, Portfolio Holder for Community Protection is concerned that “These traders may pressurise people to make a rash decision and have the work undertaken immediately for a discount. They may fail to provide the correct cancellation rights in the appropriate format which is a criminal offence.
"We are concerned that they will seek to mislead people as to the charges to be made and the exact nature of the work being undertaken. Once the work has been carried out people often feel obliged to pay, even if the work is of a poor standard.”
Householders are advised to research businesses carefully before they employ them to carry out work that can sometimes cost many hundreds or even thousands of pounds.
Top Tips - if you need work doing to your home, remember:
* don’t be forced in to making a quick decision on the doorstep.
* 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.
* fix a price and be specific about what you want done.
* make sure you have everything written down – don’t rely on spoken agreements.
* if you are at all unsure say no.
Remember – if it sounds too good to be true it usually is!
If you live in Warwickshire and are aged 50 or over – why not try Tradeline, Warwickshire County Council’s service that can put you in touch with local traders who have been verified by Warwickshire Trading Standards. For more information please phone: 08456 123 258.
If you have been approached by these or other doorstep traders please let us know on 01926 414040 or email roguetrader@warwickshire.gov.uk
If you would like further advice or information visit the Trading Standards website http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards or contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk