Police are advising residents to be wary of builders whose sales technique involves climbing up a ladder to inspect their roof - while ignoring pleas by the householder not to carry out any work.
The police advice follows two incidents targeting two elderly male residents in Sutton on Tuesday 5 April. On both occasions the residents called police and did not give the builders any money.
The police advice follows two incidents targeting two elderly male residents in Sutton on Tuesday 5 April. On both occasions the residents called police and did not give the builders any money.
The first incident occurred at around 13:30hrs when a 70-year-old resident was unloading shopping from his car at his home in Benhill Road, Sutton, when he was approached by a man offering to do roofing work.
Having agreed to get a price for the work, the resident told the workmen to "put the quote through his door". Moments later, two men turned with a ladder, climbed up and started 'chipping away' at his roof - causing render and cement to fall down. The resident told them to stop. They said they were just finishing and that the repairs would cost £360. The resident said he would think about it. No money was paid.
Around two hours later, a 93-year-old resident had two men call at his home in Corrigan Avenue, Coulsdon. They informed him his roof tiles had slipped and asked if he would like them to put them back. Despite saying "no" to any work, they put a ladder up against his property and told him that his roof was in a bad state and all the batons had gone. They would charge £550 for repairs and could start immediately. When he refused, they reduced the bill to £450. When he declined again, they said he owed them £20 for the work they had just done. Again, no money was paid.
Chief Inspector Safer Neighbourhoods Duncan McMillan, of Sutton Police station, said both these residents did the right thing in declining any work and refusing to pay.
Chief Insp McMillan said: "When you receive an unknown or unexpected caller at your home, our advice is: If you're not sure, don't open the door. If you are suspicious, call police on 999 immediately. We would rather come out and check that everything is OK than to find someone has become a victim of crime."
Cllr Nick Emmerson, Lead Councillor of Trading Standards at Sutton Council, said: "We commend these two elderly residents for resisting paying these opportunist rogue traders. Such people are bad news for all our residents and are a blight on honest and hardworking traders, which is why the council has the Safer Sutton Trader Scheme.
"This list has been thoroughly vetted by Trading Standards and offers a range of professional tradespeople in the borough. All of the businesses are checked by Trading Standards to ensure they are providing an assured service before they are listed and promoted by Sutton Council and the Met Police in Sutton."
Sutton residents should always look at the list on the council's website when considering employing a tradesperson. To find an approved trader visit the Safer Sutton Trader Scheme website at www.sutton.gov.uk/ssts or call 020 8770 5070 for details.
For advice about how to safeguard your interests when employing a contractor visit https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
Police advise residents:
* Don't do business on the doorstep
* Don't give the caller any money or your bank details
* Don't let the callers or any of their associates into your home
* If you are suspicious, call the police on 999 immediately.
Having agreed to get a price for the work, the resident told the workmen to "put the quote through his door". Moments later, two men turned with a ladder, climbed up and started 'chipping away' at his roof - causing render and cement to fall down. The resident told them to stop. They said they were just finishing and that the repairs would cost £360. The resident said he would think about it. No money was paid.
Around two hours later, a 93-year-old resident had two men call at his home in Corrigan Avenue, Coulsdon. They informed him his roof tiles had slipped and asked if he would like them to put them back. Despite saying "no" to any work, they put a ladder up against his property and told him that his roof was in a bad state and all the batons had gone. They would charge £550 for repairs and could start immediately. When he refused, they reduced the bill to £450. When he declined again, they said he owed them £20 for the work they had just done. Again, no money was paid.
Chief Inspector Safer Neighbourhoods Duncan McMillan, of Sutton Police station, said both these residents did the right thing in declining any work and refusing to pay.
Chief Insp McMillan said: "When you receive an unknown or unexpected caller at your home, our advice is: If you're not sure, don't open the door. If you are suspicious, call police on 999 immediately. We would rather come out and check that everything is OK than to find someone has become a victim of crime."
Cllr Nick Emmerson, Lead Councillor of Trading Standards at Sutton Council, said: "We commend these two elderly residents for resisting paying these opportunist rogue traders. Such people are bad news for all our residents and are a blight on honest and hardworking traders, which is why the council has the Safer Sutton Trader Scheme.
"This list has been thoroughly vetted by Trading Standards and offers a range of professional tradespeople in the borough. All of the businesses are checked by Trading Standards to ensure they are providing an assured service before they are listed and promoted by Sutton Council and the Met Police in Sutton."
Sutton residents should always look at the list on the council's website when considering employing a tradesperson. To find an approved trader visit the Safer Sutton Trader Scheme website at www.sutton.gov.uk/ssts or call 020 8770 5070 for details.
For advice about how to safeguard your interests when employing a contractor visit https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/getting-home-improvements-done/before-you-get-building-work-done/
Police advise residents:
* Don't do business on the doorstep
* Don't give the caller any money or your bank details
* Don't let the callers or any of their associates into your home
* If you are suspicious, call the police on 999 immediately.