Advice to give members of the public following recent storms
People who have had their roofs/property damaged by the recent storms are being warned not to fall victim to dodgy doorstep rogues offering to carry out repairs. Trading Standards Officers in Manchester are warning people not to be caught out by doorstep visitors offering to replace lost tiles or mend damaged guttering.
They are concerned that rogue traders may try to take advantage of the poor weather conditions and consequent damage to homes – whether real or simply made up – in the coming weeks.
Unfortunately past experience shows that rogues will try to “cash in on” a sudden upsurge in demand for roofing work. In order to avoid falling victim Trading Standards offer the following advice. If property has suffered from storm damage people should check their buildings insurance. Policies should cover storm damage and you should contact your insurer at the earliest opportunity and seek their advice. If in rented accommodation you should contact your landlord about any damage that has been caused.
If you need to have work done then make sure that you use a reputable builder. Ask friends or family to recommend someone or use someone who has worked for you in the past who you can trust.
Be wary of people ringing you up or knocking on your door, especially if they want you to sign up to a special deal on the spot.
Be cautious of advertising which comes through the door, particularly adverts which only have a telephone number. Anyone can claim to be a builder/decorator/etc.
Officers say it is their experience that those who do employ roofing rogues will often end up paying far more than they should have to, including paying for work which is not needed. Anyone offering to carry out work as a result of door to door calling should provide written details of cancellation rights to the customer. If people have concerns about doorstep callers they should contact Trading Standards on 08454 04 05 06.
Advice about repair work and consumer rights in general is also available on 08454 04 05 06 from Consumer Direct who also have information on their website at www.consumerdirect.org.uk
