Residents Urged to Beware of Rogue Traders

Date published: 02/09/2004

Rogue travelling traders and bogus workmen are knocking on doors in Rochdale borough - and their poor work could end up costing you dearly. This is the warning from Rochdale Trading Standards Service, which is urging residents to be on their guard.

Officers are aware of itinerant traders seeking work door-to-door and are advising householders to be particularly cautious when dealing with itinerant traders offering cut price tar laying, house maintenance or gardening services.

Laurence Bell, Rochdale Council's Chief Trading Standards Officer said: "A knock at the door from an wandering trader can catch people off their guard. Repairing pot-holes in your driveway or loose slates and offering to do the job at a reasonable price can seem attractive at the time."

"More often than not, this turns out to be too good to be true. We have had incidents of householders being grossly overcharged for house repairs, and tarred driveways showing weeds within days."

"We know that these itinerant traders are causing problems in the borough and would urge local people to be on their guard. The law says consumers should be given seven days to cancel a contract entered into with a doorstep seller, but by then these itinerants are long gone. You can't enforce your rights if you can't find the trader."

Householders are being advised to get several quotes before they buy, make sure they have a genuine name and address for the trader and ask for references or inspect other jobs they have completed.

Householders can contact the Trading Standards Service with any concerns by phone: 01706 864186 or by e-mail: trading.standards@rochdale.gov.uk. Further information is available from Laurence Bell, Consumer Protection & Licensing Services Manager, phone: 01706 864105.