03/06/2009 - Council in rogue trader crackdown
Trading standards officers in Hampshire are clamping down on rogue traders after a Yately man was conned out of £25,000 for work on his roof.
Council bosses have stressed that legitimate traders have nothing to fear as plans are being made for more regular co-operation between trading standards and police following a successful National Rogue Traders Day in May. Eight people were given advice on the day on how to avoid becoming victims of rogue traders, while 20 vehicles were stopped and 25 traders were checked out as part of the operation.
Andrew Smith, chief executive of Hampshire County Council, said: "Legitimate traders have nothing to fear and the work carried out by Trading Standards protects their industry against rogues."
Rogue traders typically pressurise or deceive members of the public into handing over extortionate amounts of money for unnecessary work after initially offering a low price quote. Hampshire County Council trading standards has published a directory of more than 500 organisations from over 100 trades under its 'Buy With Confidence' scheme.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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