Elderly couple hand over £1600 to rogue traders

Residents are being urged not to do business with cold callers after reports of rogue traders operating in the area.

One incident last month resulted in an elderly couple from Handforth handing over £1600 for roofing services that were not required.

Rogue traders targeted the elderly couple and carried out work over a two day period which was to a poor standard and at an over inflated price. Once the workmen had received £1600 they left and the victims never heard from them again.

During the summer wilmslow.co.uk were contacted by a lady who was very concerned about her 72-year-old sister-in-law. She had been targeted by 'roofers' who were very insistent that her property in Fulshaw Park required work.

The homeowner allowed them to carry out some work which they quoted £400 for but once the work was completed they doubled the price to £800. Fortunately she hadn't parted with any money and we advised them to contact the police who attended, asked the 'roofers' to remove the work that they have done and instructed them not contact the lady again.

PC Richard Walker explained "Door to door tradesmen can be quite charming in their attempts to get you to agree to the work, but they may be threatening when the time comes to pay. Some go as far as driving elderly people to the bank so they can withdraw more money. A few months later, when there are weeds coming through the tarmac or the roof is leaking, the traders have vanished and there is little hope of finding them.

"Typically they target those less able to check the quality of the work done, people they think could be intimidated and who they believe won't complain. They may be friendly and draw you into conversations about your family and friends. Do not buy from doorstep traders however convincing they seem."

If you believe you have been approached by a rogue traders contact the police on 101.

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Rogue Traders