Warning from Trading Standards
Merthyr Tydfil’s Trading Standards Service are warning residents to be on their guard if approached by strangers offering building repairs as a result of storm damage.
Trading Standards are concerned that organised crime groups pretending to be legitimate traders could knock on doors offering to repair damaged guttering or blown down fences. Mark Lewis, Senior Fair Trading Officer, states: “If a stranger approaches you unannounced looking to quote for repairs, just say no, never deal with strangers, you run the risk of having poor quality work and over inflated prices being offered”.
If you have had storm damage to your property, check to see if you are covered by your insurance policy first, ask your insurers advice on choosing a builder. If you can’t claim on your insurance policy or the excess makes it uneconomic to claim then get quotations from known traders only. Ask friends, family or neighbours for recommendations, always get quotations in writing with the full trading details, itemised list of work to be carried out and a time scale to complete.
If you do not want to be approached by cold callers, display the Trading Standards Warning Sign in a prominent position in your door or window, legislation can make it a criminal offence if a trader refuses to leave after this warning is shown. To receive a copy of this sign, either call to the Civic Centre reception where copies are freely available or down load by the following link – Unwanted Callers.
Make your home a no cold caller zone.
For consumer advice please call 0345 4040506. If you are suspicious of a cold caller, report your concerns to Trading Standards on 01685 725248 or if you feel intimidated or threatened by an unannounced caller , contact the Police on their emergency number 999 if the caller is present, if they have left then ring the non-emergency number 101.
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