Trading Standards Officers from our Public Protection department, accompanied by North Wales Police Community Safety Officers delivered crime prevention stickers to householders in the Erddig area.
They were delivered as part of Criminal/Rogue Trader prevention work that we’re currently undertaking. Officers also spoke to many occupiers offering safeguarding advice and spoke to trades people working in the area to inform them of their legal obligations under consumer protection law.
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In recent months, Police and Trading Standards have been aware of an increase in activity on the Coed Y Glyn and Ithens estates. Homes have been cold called by suspected unscrupulous trades people looking to carry out work to driveways, roofs, and gardens.
Local residents have been sent to the bank to withdraw large sums of money as these traders tend to ask for cash payments and never have full business details available. Households then have no redress should anything go wrong, which invariably it does.
Each home has been provided with a NO COLD CALLERS door sticker, which we would encourage all homes to display. It is a criminal offence to ignore this request to leave.
In the fight against Criminal/Rogue traders, the best protection for anyone, is to not engage at the door, not accept work from businesses door knocking or driving by, and to throw all business leaflets received in the bin.
Wrexham has a wealth of reputable and sought after local businesses. Use local, go for recommendations, and always ensure you have full details of the person you are dealing with. Never pay cash up front. Never be persuaded to go to the bank, or be taken to a cash point. Traders with any reputation will not ask you to do this.
Our joint visit to the area received many compliments from its residents. Those spoken with were grateful trading standard officers and the Police were out supporting this initiative to protect people in their homes.
If you are worried that you have been the target of a Criminal/Rogue Trader please contact Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 0808 223 1133 for advice or to report an incident.
Roger Mapleson, Trading Standards and Licensing Lead, said, “Once again we are responding to the actions of unscrupulous cold callers and we encourage anyone who is contacted in this way to just say no. Please also take little or no notice of leaflets, if you do need work doing do your own research, ask family and friends for recommendations and always obtain several quotes.”
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