Trusted Trader Week warns locals to ‘Beware of Bogus Companies’

Councillor Ferretti added, “If you are planning to have work finished in your property, check out the East Dunbartonshire Trusted Trader website – the place you’ll be able to seek for a enterprise and examine feedback from earlier prospects. It’s additionally the place to go should you’re an area dealer and serious about becoming a member of the scheme.”

The Trusted Trader initiative is centred round a Code of Practice, which covers:

• Transparent procedures for quoting and finishing up work
• Only charging a good and cheap value
• Dealing with complaints promptly.

Councillor Ferretti added, “Taking some easy precautions may also help you to keep away from falling sufferer to bogus callers and rogue merchants. Don’t permit anybody you are not anticipating into your property and by no means pay up entrance for work nonetheless to be carried out.

“Please don’t feel pressured into making decisions quickly – legitimate traders will be comfortable returning at a later date, which gives you a chance to carry out your own research.”

Further recommendation:

• Be cautious if somebody turns up unexpectedly. If you’re undecided, don’t reply the door. Don’t really feel embarrassed – real callers count on you to watch out.
• Don’t permit anybody you’re not anticipating to enter your property or to hold out work. Only let callers in if they’ve an appointment and you’ve got confirmed they’re real – ALWAYS ask for official identification.
• Check if your property insurance coverage covers you
• Don’t panic purchase or be pressured into making a fast choice – reliable merchants will likely be comfy returning at a later date, permitting analysis of their enterprise
• Get quotes from respected trusted merchants (a number of quotes the place doable)
• Use private suggestions from folks you realize who’ve used the dealer earlier than (not simply social media)
• Get a hard and fast value and schedule of works in writing. Agree what will likely be finished, when and who by. Know who you might be coping with – not simply first names.
• If it’s not an emergency restore then use your 14 days ‘cooling-off’ interval to consider it
• Be cautious of merchants who declare they will begin instantly, however demand massive sums of money or a financial institution switch up entrance. Never conform to pay prematurely for work but to be carried out.
• Often, dodgy callers will declare to be already working within the space or for certainly one of your neighbours and should begin with a comparatively small job to realize “trust”. Don’t conform to extra work on the spot and don’t pay for work finished with out your permission.
• Keep back and front doorways locked (and home windows), and use a door chain or bar when answering the door. Use the door viewer or close by window when answering the door.
• If you determine to have work finished, make staged funds, don’t hold extra money in the home and the place doable pay by way of bank card/financial institution switch – guaranteeing the recipient account is within the title of the dealer you might be coping with
• Look out for others in your neighborhood and report suspicious exercise instantly
• Check if the trader is registered at Companies House
• Sign up for Neighbourhood Watch Scotland alerts via the website.

If you ever really feel threatened or pressured, please say “no” and make contact with Police Scotland on 101 (999 in an emergency) or Trading Standards on 0300 123 4510. Information will also be handed on to Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.

For extra data and recommendation: