Doorstoppers
Help track down cowboy traders
CUSTOMERS are being asked to help track down cowboy tradesmen.
Trading standards officers are asking people to let them see any documentation - such as estimates, guarantees, receipts and cooling-off period details - received from a builder or roofer.
This will allow the team to check tradesmen are complying with consumer rules.
Michael Welsh, Hartlepool Borough Council's principal trading standards officer, said: "According to national statistics, the largest area of consumer complaints relates to home improvements, and there are some 'fly-by-night' tradesmen.
"There are cases of people not being given the proper paperwork, tradesmen not being traceable if there are any problems with the finished work and, in some cases, vulnerable customers being pressured into agreeing to work which is often not needed.
"We aim to find any rogue traders who are operating outside the law, such as those who don't provide the customer with the proper documentation."
The trading standards team is also trying to contact all the roofers or builders in the Hartlepool area directly so they can check the documentation they give to customers.
Hartlepool trading standards can be contacted on 01429-523362.
9:52am Tuesday 5th December 2006
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