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She's agreed to have nothing done by anyone without her sons or my knowledge but the son is miles away so I will do my best for her but can't be there all that often as it's just not possible!
I wonder if these delightful traders are the same chaps who visited Sandhurst (Berkshire) last winter and ripped off an OAP to the tune of £4K to cut an overhanging branch and also popped into my clients garden and hacked another tree down. They were from Doncaster and the whilst I can't remember their trading name, they were well known to Trading Standings!!!
I feel a bit guilty about the whole thing really as if I had not been so busy the hedge would have been done by now and this wouldn't have happened. I've put it out to all my older customers and they are going to tell everyone they know but it still makes my blood boil!!
Another incident (below) was reported in this weeks Trading Standards Alert ! update after a successful prosecution.
Apart from the obvious, what I noted was how they tend operate out of their home areas (lack of recognition?) ....
"Father and son roofing duo sentenced
A father and son building partnership picked up a financial penalty of more than £4,000 from Wycombe magistrates last Tuesday (September 23) after admitting offences relating to roofing and driveway work for neighbours in Little Chalfont.
Frank Wenman Snr and Frank Wenman Jnr were flagged down in their van by resident Dennis Howroyd to repair a copper strip on his roof. But they convinced him he needed more work done on his flat roof, and to his driveway.
While there, they were approached by neighbour Ken Coulter to do work on his roof. Again, they found more work they said needed doing.
The invoices for both jobs totalled £5,200.
But when surveyors, sent in by Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards, examined the work they felt it was unnecessary, incomplete and overpriced, particularly considering the quality of the work, magistrates were told.
In a prosecution brought by Trading Standards, the father and son duo admitted two counts under 2008 Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading regulations, alleging their work was of a poor standard, and/or they failed to complete work the consumer had paid for. They also admitted failing to make Mr Coulter aware of his right to cancel the contract.
The offences took place in May 2014.
Magistrates heard that since they were charged, the Wenmans, of Plaistow Road, Dunsfold, Surrey, had offered compensation of £2,500 to Mr Howroyd and Mr Coulter, ahead of their guilty pleas. Frank Wenman Jnr was fined £500 for each offence, £50 victim surcharge and £2,000 costs - a total of £3,550. Frank Wenman Snr was fined £110 for each offence, £20 victim surcharge and £354 costs - a total of £704.
Martin Phillips, Buckinghamshire County Council Cabinet Member for Community Engagement and Public Health, said the case acted as a warning to residents to be alert to doorstep traders. 'My advice to residents is to get more than one quote and always use traders who belong to a Trading Standards-approved scheme,' said Martin."
Gary, most of them are working out of their area because they are travellers. We recently had a massive site appear in Beaconsfield, and every van was tree surgery, landscaping, roofing or pressure washing services.
Two weeks later they are in another town. Trouble is it's so rare to get a prosecution, so the only way to deal with it is stop people using them. That's all down to educating householders, and at least daytime TV now has lots of horror stories every day. In amongst the antique shows!