Trading standards target fraudsters
A HAMPSHIRE County Council scheme to stop people falling victim to rogue traders and high-pressure doorstep sales has saved residents potentially almost £100,000 this year alone.
The county's Trading Standards quick response team (QRT), who can head immediately to a caller's home when alerted, have received their highest ever number of callouts in the last year.
When a call comes in from a concerned consumer, the QRT aims to set out straight away to arrive while the trader is still in the area, or when they are scheduled to return.
The objective is to catch the culprits red-handed and by intervening in cases of shoddy or overpriced work on their homes and gardens, the consumer protection team is able to stop residents from being ripped off.
In the last year, the council has received 88 callouts – double the number they would normally receive in an average year.
Trading Standards officers believe that the current economic climate has played a significant part in the increase as more rogue traders take advantage of opportunities to scam householders out of their money.
The highest number of callouts were in the Winchester area followed by Waterlooville and Petersfield, with most of the cases relating to roof repairs and relaying driveways.
Council leader Ken Thornber said: "Bogus traders offering driveway, roofing or guttering repairs particularly favour this time of the year and residents should be wary of all unexpected callers.
"The identity of anyone unknown to the householder should be carefully checked.
"Residents are advised to say 'no' to cold callers and only use traders known or recommended to them or from the Trading Standards approved trader scheme, 'Buy With Confidence'.
"In addition to setting up more than 100 'No Cold Calling Zones' across the county, Trading Standards also offers interactive talks to older people's groups to explain how to deal with unwanted callers and can provide residents with 'Safe and Sound' information booklets and stickers to go on front doors to warn doorstep traders not to call."
The QRT service was set up in June 2004 and since then, the potential savings to residents have been around 300,000 in total.
To contact them call 01962 833620.
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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