Trading standards warning after rise in rogue roofers

FAMILIES in Derbyshire are being warned not to fall foul of rogue roofers.

- By JOSEPH RICHARDS

The county council's trading standards team has noticed a sharp rise in the number of people claiming they have been ripped off by roofers over the past two years.

Reports have included rogue roofers using high-pressure sales tactics and claiming that urgent repairs are needed, and exploiting homeowners, especially the elderly and vulnerable.

Low prices for jobs are offered at first, with costs then rising, along with demands for upfront payments.

Cabinet member for health and communities, Councillor Dawn Abbott, said: "The rise in this type of incident is worrying, and I'm hoping residents will take the trading standards tips on board to protect themselves, vulnerable people they know and also their wallets.

"Rogue traders will often just knock on people's doors and offer suspiciously low prices for work they say needs carrying out, usually demanding upfront payment, and pressure people to agree immediately.