HARTLEPOOL Borough Council’s Trading Standards team has issued a warning to residents following an increase in doorstep crime incidents within the town.
Trading standards officers have reported receiving a high level of complaints recently about poor quality roofing work being performed on elderly people’s homes.
Complaints have included cowboy roofers charging £1,000 for two hours unnecessary work, £1,300 for 90 minutes roofing work and £1,600 for painting a roof with a sweeping brush.
The rogue workmen demand large amounts of money for little or no service. Elderly victims have been driven to the bank or building society to withdraw the cash.
Rachael Readman, senior trading standards officer with Hartlepool Council, said: “People should always be vigilant if approached by an uninvited doorstep caller, and they should always keep a chain on the door.”
For further advice call Hartlepool Trading Standards on 01429-523362.
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