Bogus callers warning

Jun 19 2008 by Alastair McNeill

AN INITIATIVE alerting householders to be wary of travelling salespeople offering building or gardening work has been launched by South Lanarkshire Trading Standards.

The Doorstep Crime - Don’t Be A Victim scheme, which also involves Strathclyde Police, encourages householders to say ‘no’ to bogus callers.

It comes in the wake of officers receiving a number of complaints about individuals calling uninvited on people at home and offering to carry out work which leads to a very expensive bill.

So-called ‘problems’ pointed out by unwanted callers include roof repairs, guttering replacement and cutting back or felling trees.

Some fraudsters have claimed to be working for the local authority, adding that they have materials left over from a job with which they can replace a driveway, for example.

South Lanarkshire Trading Standards officers pointed out last week that more often than not the quotes given for the work run into thousands of pounds.

Trading standards manager Peter Sherry said: “In many cases, high-pressure sales techniques are used to coerce people into signing up and paying in advance.

“Mostly, however, when the cash is paid, these travelling salespeople just move on; no work is carried out and all they leave is a piece of paper with a mobile telephone number.

“All too often, even when work is carried out, it is nothing but a shambles and leaves the householder with a bigger problem than they had in the first place.”

The trading standards officer added that elderly people are often targeted by the salesmen and can inadvertently agree to work which may not be required.

Mr Sherry said: “We want to be sure that consumers know their rights.”

l Contact Trading Standards on 01698 476291/476292/476293.