Stockport Council is urging residents to be on their guard against cold callers operating in the Hazel Grove and Cheadle Hulme areas trying to obtain roofing work.
In one incident reported to the Council a resident received a leaflet offering a roof inspection. She rang the trader, who is based outside the area, and subsequently received three phone-calls from them.
The trader asked the resident if she lived on her own and later told her that she must be on her own when the roof inspector came to visit her. The firm was offering to check her roof tiles, check for moss and lichen and to treat it with a ‘special’ coating. The resident became concerned when they said she had to be on her own when they came and she cancelled the visit. The householder has previously had a local business replace some roof tiles and she is going to call him back if she needs any further work doing.
In another incident three people called at a resident’s home and claimed they needed to inspect the roof. When they were asked for ID one of the people flashed a photo ID but no name or business details were visible. The householder turned them away.
The Council’s Stockport Trading Standards team advises residents who believe they need work doing on their property to get written quotes from several businesses. This will allow them to make an informed choice about what work needs doing and how much it will cost.
Residents are also advised to look for businesses who are members of a trade association and to ask friends and neighbours for recommendations.
Councillor Stuart Bodsworth, Stockport Council’s Executive Member for Communities and Sustainability, said:
“These cold calling salespeople can be very persuasive and even intimidating at times. They often target older or vulnerable people. It can be difficult for residents to turn them away. We would urge residents to only do business with reputable traders.
“Residents should always get several quotations before agreeing to have any work done and get them in writing – ensuring that cancellation rights are provided. We should all be very careful about cold callers and If something seems to be too good to be true it is probably not true!”
Residents with concerns or information about suspected rogue traders are urged to contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 08454 04 05 06 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.