Police have been made aware of leaflets circulating in Carshalton from a doorstep trader offering money in exchange for a wide range of household items including jewellery, clocks, paintings, records and ornaments.
Earlier this month, police in Sutton sent out advice to residents when police learned that many hundreds of leaflets were about to be distributed in the borough advertising building services, such as roofing, guttering and tarmac work.
Earlier this month, police in Sutton sent out advice to residents when police learned that many hundreds of leaflets were about to be distributed in the borough advertising building services, such as roofing, guttering and tarmac work.
Police say that whilst the vast majority of companies will be genuine, they are urging residents who want to sell goods or have improvement work carried out on their homes to check out any companies and obtain references from previous customers - before agreeing to part with any money. Most reputable companies will be happy to supply such information.
Police advice is not to let any unknown callers into your home and not to buy or sell on your doorstep.
If you are suspicious of anyone calling at your door, shut the door keeping them outside, and call police on 999. It would be especially helpful if residents could check safely whether the caller has a vehicle in the street and to take the vehicle's registration number. Police would rather come out and check that everything is OK, than to find someone who has become a victim of crime.
Sutton Council's Trading Standards advise that if you want to sell jewellery items or antiques, take time to get several quotes from reputable jewellers. Trading Standards would expect traders to have:
- a stamped scale that is accurate and sensitive enough to be used for tiny items of gold
- to be able to offer a price per gram;
- to support their business with full documentation and receipts.
They say that if they received a complaint about a jewellery buyer going door to door, they would be keen to have the opportunity to examine the scale used by the trader to ensure it complied with Weights and Measures law. All genuine traders would be expected to have a stamped scale. If residents have any doubts they should not proceed with any transaction.
Sutton Council has a Safer Sutton Trader Scheme which seeks to help residents avoid bogus builders and unscrupulous traders. To find an approved trader please visit the Safer Sutton Trader Scheme website at: www.sutton.gov.uk/ssts
Sutton's Trading Standards can be contacted on: 020 8770 5070.
For advice on rogue traders contact Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06. For their guide on 'how to spot a cowboy builder' visit:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/scams/common-scams/building-scams/top-tips-on-how-to-spot-a-cowboy-builder1/
Police advice is not to let any unknown callers into your home and not to buy or sell on your doorstep.
If you are suspicious of anyone calling at your door, shut the door keeping them outside, and call police on 999. It would be especially helpful if residents could check safely whether the caller has a vehicle in the street and to take the vehicle's registration number. Police would rather come out and check that everything is OK, than to find someone who has become a victim of crime.
Sutton Council's Trading Standards advise that if you want to sell jewellery items or antiques, take time to get several quotes from reputable jewellers. Trading Standards would expect traders to have:
- a stamped scale that is accurate and sensitive enough to be used for tiny items of gold
- to be able to offer a price per gram;
- to support their business with full documentation and receipts.
They say that if they received a complaint about a jewellery buyer going door to door, they would be keen to have the opportunity to examine the scale used by the trader to ensure it complied with Weights and Measures law. All genuine traders would be expected to have a stamped scale. If residents have any doubts they should not proceed with any transaction.
Sutton Council has a Safer Sutton Trader Scheme which seeks to help residents avoid bogus builders and unscrupulous traders. To find an approved trader please visit the Safer Sutton Trader Scheme website at: www.sutton.gov.uk/ssts
Sutton's Trading Standards can be contacted on: 020 8770 5070.
For advice on rogue traders contact Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06. For their guide on 'how to spot a cowboy builder' visit:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/scams/scams/common-scams/building-scams/top-tips-on-how-to-spot-a-cowboy-builder1/