Rogue trader warning with flood clean-up in full swing

Worcestershire County Council’s Trading Standards Officers are warning residents rogue traders could use the floods and the storms that preceded this, as an opportunity to make some serious money for themselves.

Rogue traders often carry out poor-quality work, sometimes taking money for materials and then disappearing without doing any work at all.

Councillor Karen May, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Communities at Worcestershire County Council said:  “We are encouraging homeowners to be on their guard against less reputable traders who may take advantage of any damage caused by the storms and flooding by trying to convince homeowners to pay for unnecessary or over-priced repair work.

Whilst it can be tempting to employ the first person who comes to your door offering to fix that damaged fence or lost roof tiles, it can be hard to tell a good trader from a rogue on the doorstep, so trading standards are advising residents not to buy at the door and instead seek a range of quotes from reputable traders.”

Rogue Traders may quote low prices, but they will soon demand more money and very often the work they claim needs doing is completely unnecessary.

Homeowners are advised to ignore doorstep cold callers and instead first check with their insurance company whether they are covered for repairs, since some policies include emergency assistance support.

Most insurance companies will appoint their own tradespeople to carry out the work.

For those who are not covered by insurance for any repairs, they can find a reliable trader through various trader approval schemes and the Worcestershire Trading Standards team have created a list of top tips to help you avoid rogue traders, their advice includes:

• avoid engaging anybody who calls on you unannounced offering their services
• check references and recommendations of traders and ask to see recent examples of completed work
• if gas and or electrical work is involved, check they have the right qualifications and registrations
• prepare a detailed description of the work you want doing
• meet with several prospective tradesmen, check they have insurance
• get at least three written quotes
• get a written contract which should include, the identity of the trader, their address and telephone number, details of costs and a payment schedule

If you think you may have fallen victim to a rogue trader, you can report it to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808-223-1133.