A warning never to use cold callers for unsolicited work has been sparked by a shocking case where a vulnerable widow was pressured into handing over £50,000 for work that was often unnecessary and poorly executed.
Two rogue traders were found guilty at the Crown Court in Bristol on 1 February. One pleaded guilty to offences under the Fraud Act 2006 and the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. He was jailed immediately for two years. The second, who also pleaded guilty to offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 200, has had his sentencing deferred until March.
“They targeted a vulnerable widow in her sixties who lives with her disabled adult son, pressurising her to part with £50,000 for work carried out to her house. The work was often unnecessary, poorly executed and overpriced. Using aggressive practices such as driving the victim to the bank to her bank to withdraw money they pressured her into paying over her life savings", said Mike Reed, Principal Trading Standards Officer for Bristol City Council who lead the investigation carried out by the Doorstep Crime Team which combines the work of Trading Standards and Police in Bristol.
In November 2010. the first defendant made a “cold call” at the victim’s home in Bishopsworth asking if the victim wanted her guttering replaced. Further unarranged visits resulted in a new block paved driveway, garden work, new chimney stack and the victim being told at one stage that her ceilings would fall down unless work was completed to her roof.
“No quotes were provided and no cancellation rights were offered.Instead they requested increasing sums of cash for the work they say they had completed” said Mike Reed.
“Matters came to a head in June 2011 when the first defendant informed the victim that she had an asbestos problem in the roof and that if the gasman knew, she could be forced out of her home and made homeless. More money was requested in advance of their promise to resolve this problem.”
On 17 June 2011 both defendants drove the victim to the bank to get the money.
Trading Standards staff were alerted by the victim’s bank who intervened to stop the torrent of money moving out of her account, she had cashed in two ISAs worth approximately £23,000, incurred a £9,000 loan and used up money intended for her son - to her great personal distress.
"Our advice is never agree to work by doorstep traders, some doorstep sellers are honest but unfortunately there are many rogue traders who target their victims by making uninvited "cold calls. Never forget it is your doorstep and you have the right to refuse to deal with uninvited traders", said Mike Reed.
