Ever been ripped off or fallen victim to a rogue trader?
Choosing an honest and reliable tradesman can be a difficult and daunting task. South Gloucestershire Council Trading Standards offers the following advice to help you protect yourself from these unscrupulous 'traders':
Be wary of traders who cold call and the deals they offer you - it is unusual for genuine tradesmen to need to cold call to drum up work!
• If they claim work needs doing, get a second or even third opinion from other professional tradesman.
• Obtain a number of quotes, in writing and detailing what work will be done.
• If you agree to work you are afforded cancellation rights by law, and these should be given to you in writing. These rights give you seven days in which you can change your mind and cancel the contract.
• Check any paperwork you are given to make sure it has not been backdated and includes everything you have agreed to.
• Ensure you have the correct company name and/or owners name and the full postal address - this will not guarantee the work is done satisfactorily but may enable you to take further action if things go wrong.
• If the goods / services cost £100 or more, try and pay some or all of it on a credit card as this may afford you additional protection.
• If you are unhappy or feel intimidated by the visitor - shut the door and call the police.
For advice on rogue traders or any other consumer matter, you can access information leaflets from the Trading Standards pages of www.southglos.gov.uk
Rogue traders Thornbury
