'Shop the traders who bring misery'

7:59am Thursday 22nd May 2008

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POLICE and Trading Standards officers have joined forces for a major operation targeting rogue traders in York and North Yorkshire.

Operation Rogue Trader was launched yesterday as part of a crackdown on conmen who target vulnerable people and offer to carry out repairs, many of which are not needed in the first place, and then charge over-inflated prices.

Genuine local businesses helped officers to gather intelligence about criminals offering to carry out roofing repairs, plumbing, electrical work, driveway work and general building repairs.

No one was arrested, but officers spoke to six people who they believe have been victims of this type of crime and will now be looking for the people who carried out the work.

They will be following up a number of new leads as a result of tip-offs gathered during the day.

Officers carried out stop checks on 150 vehicles as part of their investigations.

Chief inspector Dave Hall, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "The tactics used by such traders can often be aggressive and threatening when it comes to demanding their fees.

"One case in point is where an elderly man was marched down to his bank in order to withdraw the extra cash charged for the work. In some cases a price is agreed but then the trader states that additional work had to be completed thus pushing the price up well above the original quote.

"Rogue traders usually prey on members of our elderly communities who tend to be far more vulnerable victims as a result of their trusting natures or, as a result of age, can become easily confused by the direct manner of these so called trades people.

"However, anyone can be a target of these people and Trading Standards would advise that everyone should take note of this problem and understand that there is good advice available and protection to ensure you do not become a victim of unscrupulous traders."

He said rogue traders generally operate on a door-to-door canvassing basis, driving around looking for vulnerable targets and striking where they are able to.

"Victims are easily talked into agreement over the work and then once completed are forced to hand over exorbitant payments that can run into thousands of pounds, leaving the victims devoid of their savings and work completed to a dubious standard, if indeed it was ever needed in the first place," he added.

"These people bring misery to elderly members of our community and their motives, and methodology can only be described as despicable."

Matt Boxall, principal trading standards officer at City of York Council, said: "This initiative shows how committed the council is to disrupting the activities of those criminals - who call themselves traders - targeting people in their own homes.

"The victims of these crimes often tell shocking stories about how they have been conned into parting with huge sums of money, often money that has taken many years of hard work, even a lifetime, to save.

"This is a high-profile day, but we are continuously working on ways to tackle these crimes.

"There are now more than 20 cold calling controlled zones in the city where residents have collectively agreed to say no to unwanted doorstep callers, and we operate the Home Services Directory which is list of traders vetted by trading standards and the police as being reputable trades people."

• If anyone has concerns about a trader overcharging somebody they know, or would like details of the cold calling controlled zones or the home services directory, they should phone Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.

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Have cold calling zones cut the number of rogue traders?