Two white men, the boss possibly called 'Roger' and the engineer was named 'Paul'.
The resident was cold called and told that complaints from neighbours had been received about vermin and that the callers had come to inspect drains. The victim was then convinced to pay £4000 in cash, being told that he would be refunded £3000 and that the callers would log it as an 'insurance job', therefore only costing £1000.
The men left with the £4000 and have not returned to do any of the agreed work on the victim's drains.
Kent Trading Standards advise consumers to be wary when dealing with traders at their door. Do not pay out large sums of cash. Few jobs are so urgent that they need immediate attention.
In most cases if you agree to buy anything costing over £35 from a trader at your door, the law gives you a 7 day "cooling off" period to change your mind. The trader must give you a written cancellation notice if you agree to have any work done. Failure to give this notice is a crime.
Never agree to pay additional money up front on the promise that part or all of the money will be refunded at a later date. If it sounds too good to be true it normally is.
If you are considering work in or on your property it is always best to get at least a couple of quotes from traders. You can find reputable traders on the "Buy With Confidence" good trader scheme run by us. Our officers vet all traders on the scheme for trustworthiness and to ensure they comply with consumer protection laws. Or, ask for recommendations from friends or family.
To report any concerns you have or for details of Buy With Confidence traders call Trading Standards via Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06. You can also visit
www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk for a list of traders.
