Residents are being warned against using cowboy builders or rogue traders if their houses or fences have been damaged by the recent storms and high winds.

Legitimate builders, plumbers, carpenters and other craftsmen will be working at full stretch and Trading Standards is concerned that dishonest traders will take advantage of the situation to rip off vulnerable residents.

Traders who knock on your door or leaflet you may provide you with a false address or a pay as you go mobile number which cannot be traced.

Trading Standards advise people to speak to their insurance companies before engaging anyone to carry out repair work and to approach businesses approved by the insurers.

If your house or property has been damaged by the recent storm the last thing you need is a rogue trader adding to the problem.

Trading Standards suggests anyone needing work carrying out around the home or garden can use the Age UK Coventry Trusted Traders scheme which is available to people of all ages living in Coventry and is provided in partnership with Coventry Trading Standards. For details contact: 024 7643 3982.

Back to Top

Trading Standards has received reports of cold callers knocking on doors in the Holbrooks area. The callers alleged to work for a company who could get residents better deals on a range of financial products, and asked for a lot of personal information.

Our advice to residents is to never to agree to any services from businesses that make contact out of the blue such as traders knocking on the door, or responding to leaflets put through your letterbox.

Be vigilant and never disclose any personal or financial information.

Coventry Trading Standards also has a free ‘Stop Cold Calling’ sticker pack to help deal with the growing problem of unwanted callers at your door. Visit www.coventry.gov.uk/stop-cold-callers for more details.

Back to Top

Trading Standards has been advised of a telephone call falsely making claims of having ‘sorted out’ a Canley resident's PPI claim.

The resident had a genuine claim going through a legitimate company, and the caller advised they were from Trading Standards, and calling on behalf of the claims company.

They were advised that their claim had been successful, and  were due a PPI refund of £4,900. The resident was told that if they purchased £150 in iTunes vouchers, a courier could drop the money off in cash later that day.

Thankfully at this stage, the resident realised this was not a genuine call and hung up.

Fraudsters are using iTunes gift cards to collect money from victims because they can be easily redeemed and sold on. The scammers don’t need the physical card to redeem the value, just the serial code on the back.

These callers have no connection with Trading Standards, the Ministry of Justice, or any other Government Agency. Fraudsters have already tricked and harassed some victims into handing over thousands of pounds, only for them to find that the call was a fake. No official agency would contact consumers asking them for personal bank details, or request an up-front payment.

Residents are reminded not to pass on personal or financial details to such callers but if you believe you may have already done so, contact your bank immediately to stop or check any unauthorised transactions. 

Back to Top

The following notice has been issued by the Food Standards Agency:

Public Health England has identified a small number of cases with E. coli O157 infection. Investigations have found a possible link to the above product. As a precautionary measure, Sainsbury's is recalling certain batches of its Taste the Difference 4 pack Aberdeen Angus British Beef Quarter Pounders (Frozen).

Product: Frozen Taste the Difference 4 pack Aberdeen Angus British Beef Quarter Pounders

Pack size: 454g

Batches with best-before dates: July 2018, September 2018 and October 2018

Advice: If you have bought any of the above batches do not eat them. Instead, return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund.

Back to Top

The following notice has been issued by the manufacturer:

Brand: Babyliss for Men

Product name: AcuBlade Face and Body Groomer

Model number: REF 7426U

Batch affected: 2416PT2

We are conducting a recall of a single batch (code 2416PT2) of this product as it does not meet our stringent quality standards. In extremely rare circumstances, the lithium battery may overcharge and pose a potential fire hazard.

Affected customers with a product from this batch code 2416PT2 only are asked to stop using it immediately, ensure it is unplugged from the mains and contact us for a replacement.

To find out how to identify the model number and batch code please visit our website: babyliss.co.uk/7426U-recall.html where you will also find further information and details on how to contact us.

We wish to apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your cooperation.

Back to Top