Two men were arrested in Berkhamsted after defrauding an elderly woman of £6,000 for unnecessary roof repairs.
She paid £6,000 for really bad roof work first. Then, they wanted another £10,000 from her quickly. Thankfully, a friend was worried and called the police.
Police went to her house yesterday afternoon right away. They arrested two men there, ages seventeen and twenty-four.
Police think they committed fraud by lying to her. Police released both men but are still investigating things.
Usually, these traders show up at your door. They offer home or garden work you may not need. They might overcharge a lot, like for roof tiles. They could want to remove a “dangerous” tree.
Police have some advice for everyone living here. Don’t agree to services from door-to-door people. Instead, find traders using the Trusted Traders website. The website helps folks find good, reliable traders.
Be careful if a trader raises the job size or cost later. Don’t rush into decisions about home improvements today. Talk to friends and family first about it. Get quotes from other traders for safety.
Get a contract with full details of the work needed. It must describe the work duration and materials also.
Make sure you know the trader’s actual business address. They must legally put this on all contracts. Learn your cancellation rights using “cooling off” rules.
Police want you to share this story to help others. Warn any friends, family, and neighbors about it now. This is especially important for elderly or vulnerable people. Report suspected rogue trading to the police soon.