Council / Rogue trader warning
SHETLAND Islands Council is warning locals to be aware of people going door-to-door in Shetland offering to do work on driveways and car parks.
The council’s trading standards and roads services are aware of people falsely claiming to be doing work for the council, saying they have materials left over which they want to use up.
Services offered include laying tar, surface dressing and line marking, with the prices charged generally much higher than normal, and the quality of work often poor.
Trading standards team leader David Marsh said: “If you are approached in this way, the best advice is to firmly refuse what is being offered.
“If you are thinking about getting work done on your own property there are a number of local businesses, as well as the council’s roads service, that offer such services.
“You are best to get quotes from two or three suppliers and make sure you have a clear agreement in writing about exactly what is to be done, and how much it will cost, before any work begins.
“We are aware too that staff at council premises have also been approached, and there are standard procedures to organise any maintenance works at any council site.”
Meanwhile the DVSA has also alerted people to a scam involving text messages which warn people they have a “parking penalty charge” to pay.
The texts may warn about prosecution, or being banned from driving.
Some Shetland residents have reported receiving these texts.
Anyone needing advice on any consumer issue, or who wants to report an incidence of rogue trading, con contact trading standards on trading.standards@shetland.gov.uk or 01595 744887.
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