Residents Warned Of Rogue Traders

Wrexham Council’s Trading Standards team is warning householders to be on their guard following a number of incidents concerning roofing work. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Homeowners need to be cautious if someone is telling them their roof requires replacement. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is easy for a trader to condemn an existing roof by claiming, for example, that battens are rotten and felt damaged, but it’s almost impossible for the homeowner to check whether any of these kinds of claim are true. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Don’t do business with anyone who knocks on your door and offers to carry out work. You may end up paying more than you thought you had agreed, the work may never have been necessary in the first place and the quality could be poor. Professional looking leaflets are not a guarantee of quality or value. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Traders who call uninvited are nearly always untraceable after they have been paid and the work is often unnecessary, overpriced and poor quality. Some traders can be very persuasive and will target the most vulnerable members of the community who can easily be frightened into believing immediate work is necessary when in fact there may be no work required at all. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Whenever you are considering having any work done on your house always seek quotes from more than one trader. Make sure the trader is reputable and that you can contact them afterwards if anything should go wrong. Recommendations are a good idea but are probably not that useful if they come from a neighbour who has only just had the work done themselves. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Should you engage with a trader at your home, you should be given in writing the right to cancel the contract within 14 days. This is generally referred to as a cooling off period. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr David Kelly, Lead Member for Public Protection, said: “Please be cautious as cowboy traders will exploit any incidents of recent bad weather to sell roofing and guttering work and other property repairs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Look out for your friends, family and neighbours, particularly those who you think may be vulnerable, and report anything suspicious.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Members of the public can report incidents to Contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 040506 or to Police on 101. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Members of the public may also contact Wrexham Council’s Houseproud scheme. Under the scheme, homeowners are allocated their own Houseproud officer, who can discuss potential repairs and adaptations with them and see whether or not they are eligible for any funding or help. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The officer may then put out a tender for work on the home, to be priced by reputable, council-approved building firms. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

For further advice, contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 040506. If you need to report an incident as an emergency please contact the Police by dialing 999. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​