Published on:
01
August 2008
Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils Joint Trading Standards Service are warning consumers about doorstep sellers. The local joint Trading Standards Service has received reports of itinerant workers offering to clean roofs and driveways. Upon investigation workmen were found who were cold calling but were not giving consumers the statutory cancellation rights and other information.
Where a trader approaches the consumer looking to carry out work then the consumer is
entitled to receive written cancellation rights as well as written details of who the trader is, what the trader's address is along with some other required information, if you don't then please contact Trading Standards. Brian Wilson a Trading Standards Officer with Stirling Council advises that a trader cannot enforce the contract when the required cancellation rights have not been given and an offence is committed.
Consumers should always check that they have an address and telephone number for the
trader that they should check prior to agreeing to any work and should take some steps to
check that they are valid. Unfortunately itinerant traders mobile telephone numbers can have a
habit of belonging to a pre-pay mobile, which can be virtually untraceable. Consumers are
advised to always record and keep a note of the vehicle registration number of any vehicles.
Trading Standards Officer Brian Wilson advises members of the public thinking of getting work
done that they should ask friends, neighbours or relatives for personal recommendations, or
else look up local traders in the phone directory instead of getting somebody who knocks on
the door out of the blue.
Always get written quotes detailing the cost and what work will be carried out from more than one reputable trader prior to agreeing that any work should take place. Don't accept estimates as the cost of work can then increase. Never pay in advance, the trader is likely to take the money and disappear.
Brian added, "One of our concerns is that this type of trader, once they have been on the roof tells the householder that slates were loose or missing or that some other work is urgently required. The householder is then tricked into agreeing to more and more work and are then presented with a bill for thousands (when a local company would only charge a few hundred for the same job - were it actually necessary)."
Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils Joint Trading Standards Service can be contacted during normal office hours on 0845 277 7000, or email tradingstandards@stirling.gov.ukor in person at the Municipal Buildings, 8-10 Corn Exchange Road, Stirling, FK8 2HU.