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In this issue:
 In
the final week for Scams Awareness Month we’re focusing on Doorstep Crime and Fraud.
There are
many forms of doorstep crime such as: Rogue Traders, pushy door-to-door sales people or bogus
officials; all doorstep crime involves fraudsters trying to scam you after
knocking at your door.
Doorstep crime can affect anyone, but often older
and vulnerable adults are more at risk with rogue doorstep sellers freely sharing information with other
criminals.
Trading Standards receive
regular reports of Rogue Traders knocking on homeowners' doors or approaching
residents in their gardens offering to carry out various kinds of work ranging
from jet washing driveways, gardening and fencing to roofing repairs.
In the past month we have issued several warnings following
reports from local residents in Finham, Radford, Tile Hill and Stoke who have
been approached by people offering to carry out property repairs.
Last week we received further reports from residents
in Canley and Finham after being approached by men offering to jet wash their
driveways.
Earlier in the month two residents handed over large sums of cash for work which is of a poor quality and neither
trader gave any paperwork or receipts. When interviewed both traders denied
ever being paid, claiming that they would only ask for payment on completion of
the work.
The law is clear – a consumer who agrees to a contract whilst in their home where the
cost of the work or goods is over £42.00 must be given a written notice
detailing their 14 days to cancel.
Failure to do so is a criminal offence.
In addition, a trader must also give written details of who they are including their name, address and details
of the work to be done.
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Paving and Driveway Cleaning Gangs
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Roofing and Garden Maintenance
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Mobility Product Sales
Our advice: never deal with cold callers as this is a favoured approach used by
rogue traders whose sole intention is to extract as much money from their
victims as possible.
Residents who do not want to deal with uninvited callers can display our notice on their front door or window to show that
they do not welcome cold callers. Information on our Stop Cold Calling pack can be found on our website: www.coventry.gov.uk/stop-cold-callers
A trader ignoring a request to leave your home and
not return runs the risk of committing an offence.
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A
worrying new trend is emerging whereby people who have been victims of Doorstep
Crime are later approached by ‘Officials’ offering assistance to claim
compensation against the person who carried out previous poor work.
The caller may claim they are a Police or Trading Standards Officer but in order to progress your compensation
claim they require money to fund the legal case.
They may also ask for bank account
details so that the compensation can be paid directly into your account.
Protect
yourself:
If someone calls at your
door check who it is by using the spy
hole if you have one, or look through a front window.
Always put the chain on before
you open the door. (If you don't have a chain it's a good idea to get one -
they don't cost much).
Anyone turning up on your doorstep
claiming to be from Trading Standards or to be a Police Officer, or any other ‘Official’
will have photo identification so check them out before letting them into your
home.
If in any doubt, contact the
organisation they claim to be from using a telephone number that you source
yourself – don’t use any number provided by the caller.
Genuine callers won’t mind waiting
outside whilst you check them out.
Neither Trading Standards or the Police would ever ask you for money or charge you a fee to help reclaim money lost to a
Rogue Trader.
Report any concerns to the
Police on 101.
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For
more information on scams, visit: www.coventry.gov.uk/scams
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