Rogue traders will try to exploit the misery of people in Leicestershire whose homes have been flooded in the past few days, Leicestershire County Council’s Trading Standards warned today (Friday, January 10). The team is urging those affected – mostly in the Charnwood and Melton areas – to be on high alert if contacted by doorstep traders or cold callers offering repairs, garden work or clean-up services.
Hundreds of homes and businesses are in the throes of dealing with flood damage. Officials fear people will be conned into employing rogue traders who will carry out shoddy or over-priced work.
Councillor Deborah Taylor, lead member for regulatory services, said: “These people are scammers who target people when they are at their most vulnerable and use events like the flooding to cash in and make money. They know that people need to make urgent repairs to their property and clean up after the water has receded, so may knock on the door and suggest repairs that they claim they can carry out quickly.”
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“These unscrupulous traders pose as legitimate tradespeople, often targeting the elderly and vulnerable people within our communities. These offenders are extremely believable and can come across as very charming and trustworthy.
“But they can also use aggressive behaviour and scare tactics. They advise people that work needs to be done when it often doesn’t. This work can be sub-standard and consumers can find themselves paying more than they originally agreed.
“We would ask people to be on their guard against this type of scam, and to look out for our friends, families and neighbours to ensure they don’t fall victim. The message is simple – if you’re not sure, don’t open the door.”
The county council warned that criminals would use high-pressure techniques, such as offering to take a victim to the bank to withdraw money. It said people should speak to friends or family before agreeing to employ anyone they have not checked, or to parting with any money.
Leicestershire Trading Standards has issued this advice:
- Do not agree to any work on the doorstep
- Go online to search for reviews and recommendations
- Is the trader listed as a Limited Company? if so, it should be listed on Companies House. Does the company exist? If not, the trader is giving false information about their company details
- Obtain a minimum of three quotes by different tradespeople
- Obtain full details of each business that provides a quote, visit any website and/or social media page they hold, check their address on the Royal Mail website
- Ensure that the contract of works required, the quoted and agreed final price are all received in writing
- Never pay in cash – use a secure method such as bank transfer or credit card
- Do not feel pressured to pay prior to any work being conducted. A reputable builder will not request money up front for work that has not been carried out.
- If the trader is legitimate, they won’t mind waiting for you to come back to them once you have made an informed decision. Be wary of those that say they can start straight away, whatever reason they give you
For contracts over the value of £42, traders must give you notice that you have 14 days to change your mind and cancel the contract. An exception is if work needs to be carried out in an emergency or at your express request, but you must waive these rights in writing.
Contact your insurance company for advice about repairs, as they might have restrictions on which traders you can use If you feel in immediate danger, call the police on 999 or for a non-urgent matter, call 101
For more advice and guidance, call 0808 223 1133 or visit https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer
To report a rogue trader, visit www.leicestershire.gov.uk/tradingstandards