...and residents are urged to be on the alert for ‘rogue traders’
RESIDENTS across the Staffordshire Moorlands are being urged to be vigilant over rogue traders after reports of elderly people being targeted by doorstep callers.
Staffordshire County Council’s trading standards service has received reports of elderly residents being approached and told they need work carried out on their properties.
Now the authority is reminding all residents to research traders before agreeing to work, while police are urging people to report incidents where they have been left feeling threatened or intimidated.
In a recent case a resident in their 70s was initially told they needed a leaking chimney fixed for the sum of £400 – but the job soon escalated to the replacement of the entire roof at a cost of £18,000.
The resident stopped the worker when he began to remove roof tiles and expose the wooden structure.
Rogue traders typically target older people for home repairs; mainly roofing and guttering work. They start off by saying minor repairs are needed (blocked gutters or a small leak, for example), which, if the work is not done, it will be a very big job to put right.
The prices charged are excessive and the criminals rarely provide paperwork so they can’t be traced once they’ve left people’s homes. Often the work they suggest doesn’t even need doing and if it is done it is done to a poor standard. Victoria Wilson, cabinet member responsible for trading standards at the county council, said: “This type of criminal activity that usually targets older more vulnerable residents is particularly cruel.
“Not only can it leave people quite shaken up but can also leave them seriously out of pocket.
“Our Trading Standards service has had a few reports recently of doorstep criminals and we’re reminding residents to be vigilant and to report any incidents.
“Reputable builders, roofers and gardeners do not usually cold call. People needing work done on their homes should always get three quotes for the work, never pay up front and should not pay by cash. “And, if anyone is unsure about the caller, they should ask them to make an appointment to come back when a friend or family member can be with them.
“Home owners are also reminded to be vigilant as to which online trader matching and referral services, they leave their details on.”
Superintendent Tom Chisholm, head of neighbourhood policing at Staffordshire Police, said: “Nobody should feel threatened or intimidated in their own home and anyone who is made to feel this way by the actions of someone claiming to be providing a service should contact the force.
“Previously there have been incidents where someone claiming to be a trader will knock on the resident’s door and tell them their property is in need of work – which is not normally the case.
“If the work goes ahead it is often of low quality and the injured party is overcharged.
“Victims tend to be older and feel pressured into agreeing to the work.
“There have been occasions where they have been escorted to a bank to withdraw money.
“Sometimes these rogue traders are associated with wider criminal gangs and it is important that people report their concerns.”
Trading standards officers are warning householders to never: agree for work on their house or garden to be carried out by a cold caller; give money or sign any forms; o pen the door to strangers or allow uninvited callers into their home, or let somebody take them to the bank to take money out.
Anyone who feels afraid or threatened by a doorstep caller should call 999. For non-urgent calls they should dial 101.
The county council’s Trading Standards team can be contacted on 0300 111 8000.
Victims tend to be older and feel pressured into agreeing to the work
Superintendent Tom Chisholm