If work needs to be done on your property, known and reputable traders should be used. Residents should be extremely wary of any doorstep caller looking to carry out gardening or building work.

Rogue traders are individuals or groups of people who cold-call householders, often targeting vulnerable residents, claiming to be a bona fide business and purporting to offer services, most commonly buildings maintenance and repair. The long Bank Holiday weekend can be an opportunity for these rogues to catch more people at home and offer work. Last year, Coventry Trading Standards had an increase in such reports around Bank Holidays.

Our advice is to be on your guard for such unsolicited approaches, and to stay vigilant especially if you have vulnerable or elderly people living nearby who may be potential targets.

If you didn't arrange for a visit, politely decline any offers of work and close your door. Be firm, as rogue traders are in the habit of turning up in the evenings and at weekends and often more than once to try put pressure on people. These individuals will soon move on if their source of work – and income – dries up.

If you do need work on your property or garden, use a reputable local trader recommended by friends or family or someone who has been vetted and is part of the Age UK (Coventry) Trusted Traders Scheme. This service is available to people of all ages living in the Coventry area and can be contacted by phoning 024 7643 3982.

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A Styvechale resident has reported receiving an email claiming to be from HMRC about a tax refund. 

We would remind all residents that HMRC will never send notifications of a tax rebate by email, or ask you to disclose personal or payment information by email.

Do not visit the website contained within the email or disclose any personal or payment information.

If you have received a HMRC related phishing/bogus email, please forward it to: phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and then delete it.

Our advice is to delete this or any other similar messages.

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There has been another report from a Westwood resident who has received an email claiming to be from HMRC about a tax refund. 

We would remind all residents that HMRC will never send notifications of a tax rebate by email, or ask you to disclose personal or payment information by email.

Do not visit the website contained within the email or disclose any personal or payment information.

If you have received a HMRC related phishing/bogus email, please forward it to: phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk and then delete it.

Our advice is to delete this or any other similar messages.

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Trading Standards has been made aware of a scam that has targeted a takeaway business in Earlsdon.

The owner reported receiving a call this week from a man calling himself ‘Steve Clifford’. He claimed to be from the National Food Crime Agency and would be visiting the following week when three meals would need to be provided and tasted. He also advised that they may be able to increase the premises’ food hygiene rating to a 5.

The National Food Crime Agency confirms the call was not from them, and they have no one of that name working for them.

Food Safety Officers from the City Council who do visit local food outlets would always show photo ID and would not require meals to be provided to them to taste.

Trading Standards also carry out unannounced food sampling visits to check on food descriptions, but again, the Officer would show photo ID and the food would go into sampling bags rather than being eaten.

If any food outlet receives a visit from someone claiming to be from an official agency please ask for the person identification and if you have any doubt, phone the organisation they claim to be from on a number you source yourself – do not rely on a number given by the person. 

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Asda is recalling its Limited Edition Szechuan Chicken because it contains barley which is not mentioned on the label. This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to barley.

Product: Asda Limited Edition Szechuan Chicken
Pack size: 400g
Use-by date: 29 Apr 2017

Advice: If you have bought the above product and have an allergy or intolerance to barley, do not eat it. Instead return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.

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