Trading Standards Investigate Rogue Trader Reports

Carmarthenshire Trading Standards are advising people to think twice before agreeing to pay cold callers for gardening and home improvements, and instead use the council’s Registered Traders Scheme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Their advice comes as police investigate reports that rogue traders are targeting older people in the Llangunnor, Burry Port and Llangennech areas. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Several people have reported that they have been charged large sums of money for work such as gardening and gutter cleaning, and that the work is not completed or carried out to a satisfactory standard. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The reports also confirm that no paperwork is being provided, therefore leaving the customer without cancellation rights or contact details for the business. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Trading Standards are working with police to investigate the issue, but in the meantime are advising people to be on their guard against cold callers, and to help elderly neighbours by keeping an eye out in the community. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council’s Registered Trader Scheme lists a number of local handypersons and gardeners, all of which have signed up to a code of practice that requires them to trade fairly and honestly and abide by the law – this includes giving paperwork and charging a reasonable price. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Jim Jones, Executive Board Member for Public Protection, said: “We’re concerned to hear reports of people being ripped off on their own doorstep. Doorstep callers often use very sophisticated selling tactics to persuade people to part with their cash – never be pressurised into paying for goods and services and always seek advice from someone you trust.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​