@WAR - Update from Trading Standards

Warwickshire Trading Standards email alerts. Please feel free to cascade this information to whomever you feel appropriate (including using the information in your newsletters/websites etc.). 20/04/2015: Southam area rogue roofers warning 20/04/2015: North Warks and Rugbycomputer ‘fix’ scam warning 20/04/2015: Warwickshire Butchers are a Cut above the Rest 20/04/2015: Southam area rogue roofers warning By Simon Cripwell on Apr 20, 2015 02:19 pm Warwickshire Trading Standards is warning householders living in the Southam area to beware of rogue roofers. Reports indicate that residents are being charged thousands of pounds to clean moss off their roofs which are then painted 'for protection'. Although the rogue traders claim the work will take a few days, they typically only spend a few hours at the consumer's property before disappearing, leaving behind them 'work' which is massively overpriced and often unnecessary. The rogue traders, who are well dressed and operate door to door also leave behind worthless warranties and other paperwork. You can't tell a good trader from a bad one on the doorstep. Never accept offers of work from unexpected door to door traders. Seek local traders with recommendations to maintain. What rogue roofers do Rogue traders often offer to replace loose roof tiles, or pressure wash or ‘treat’ a roof with special ‘heat insulating paint’. Loose Roof Tiles: Rogue traders often falsely claim that an owner’s property has loose roof tiles as it is difficult to for a householder to verify if this is true or not. Once on the roof, rogue traders can then ‘find’ other jobs to do and may even damage roofs on purpose, just so they can charge to repair them. Jet Spraying Roofs: Rogue traders may offer to jet spray a roof to clean it and remove moss. However, roofing experts warn that roof tiles should not be subject to high-pressure washing. To do so can potentially damage or break the tiles and remove any aesthetic granular tile finish. ‘Insulating Paint’: Rogue traders may offer to paint your roof with ‘special insulating paint’. There is no evidence that the products they would use would have any insulating qualities. Further, to allow them to carry out this ‘work’ may damage your roof. Read in browser » 20/04/2015: North Warks and Rugbycomputer ‘fix’ scam warning By Simon Cripwell on Apr 20, 2015 01:55 pm A North Warwickshire resident reported receiving a phone call from a bogus computer 'fix' caller. The scammer claimed his name was John Edwards and that he was calling from Microsoft Security , based in Manchester. He claimed the call recipients email had been compromised and was sending out spam mail (although the email address he gave was not the residents). He went on to ask if the resident carried out Internet banking or on-line shopping. The caller then gave a genuine Microsoft Office telephone number to the resident and said he would call back later. A number of further scam calls were then made from what was believed to be the same Far Eastern call centre. A similar incident was also reported by a Rugby resident. Microsoft does not cold call consumers Never reveal personal or financial information to unexpected or cold callers, even if you think they are genuine Always put the phone down quickly, don't attempt to engage scammers in conversation, it only encourages them Consider screening your calls using an answer-phone or similar. Read in browser » 20/04/2015: Warwickshire Butchers are a Cut above the Rest By Simon Cripwell on Apr 20, 2015 01:12 pm Warwickshire butchers are a cut above the rest! That’s the verdict of Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service following their inspection of 20 premium independent butchers based across the County. Read in browser »   Recent Articles: 14/04/2015: Door to door training warning 08/04/2015: Bogus council callers 08/04/2015: Cold caller con 08/04/2015: It’s a complete cover-up! 08/04/2015: Bogus citizens advice pensions caller

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