Council’s crackdown: rogue traders beware

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Rogue traders in vehicles who aim to dupe and extort money from the public are the target of road block activity today (April 24) by Birmingham's Trading Standards Service and West Midlands Police.

Trading standards officers will be stopping vehicles in the city with tell-tail-signs that they are trading for property repairs or improvement work without the proper credentials.  For example, dubious traders who intend to carry out work such as fixing roofs, landscape gardening, building patios or conservatories.

The enforcement activity - part of a national Rogue Traders Day - has been organised to stop rogue traders targeting vulnerable people.

On the day, vehicles of particularly interest will be:

- Cars or vans with roof ladders.
- Vehicles with magnetic peel-off strips which can easily be removed and replaced with another trading name.
- Trucks or vans with building materials but no signage or company branding.

The council together with the police aim is to stop these types of vehicles and advise traders of the law.

Sajeela Naseer, Head of Birmingham Trading Standards, said: “We know that rogue traders target older vulnerable people in order to extract huge amounts of money for poor and sometimes non-existent work.”

“Today activity is part of a nationwide coordinated day of action, which has been organised to send out a clear message to rogue traders that they will not be tolerated and will be stopped.”

The council and West Midlands Police will check trader's identities, trading names and vehicles against intelligence databases. Additional checks will be made regarding drivers, their vehicles and motor vehicle insurance.

Ends

For more media information please contact Karen Blanchette on 0121 303 6969.

Notes to editors

The Citizens Advice Consumer Service provides free, confidential and impartial advice on consumer issues. Visit www.adviceguide.org.uk or call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 08454 04 05 06 or 0208 1850 710 (English language).

CEnTSA is a regional Trading Standards group incorporating Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Herefordshire, Sandwell, Shropshire, Solihull, Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent, Telford & Wrekin, Walsall, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton and Worcestershire.

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