Legal News

Bexley Council’s Trading Standards department is warning of a scam in which a man offering roofing services tried to defraud an 80-year-old Sidcup man who lives alone by door-stepping him.

The council said that on 13 February, the elderly man returned home to find a man standing at his door, saying that a large piece of concrete had just fallen off his roof.

He was told that it could be mended for £2,500 cash, with a further £6,000 to be paid.

However, the trader ended up removing the entire roof – and then demanded a further £39,000 to finish the work.

Relatives of the man contacted Bexley's Trading Standards team, which attended the address to find the rogue trader had left.

However, he continued to contact the elderly man by phone and during one call, the trader was spoken to by police and was also advised that Trading Standards were dealing with the matter.

After contacting Trading Standards by phone the same day, the trader was told he needed to return the total of £6,000 paid so far by the victim. The money was repaid by a woman who attended the Civic Offices the following day and handed over £6,000 in cash to Trading Standards.

Trading Standards say they have now liaised with Bexley's Staying Put Service - a home-improvement agency for the older, vulnerable and disabled residents of Bexley - for a reputable trader to replace the roof on the elderly man’s property.

Staying Put is a home-improvement agency for older, vulnerable and disabled residents of Bexley, offering help and advice on home repairs, improvement and adaptations.

Councillor Peter Craske said:

“Sadly there are always unscrupulous traders around who will try to take advantage of people, particularly the elderly and vulnerable.

“The best advice is not to deal with uninvited traders at your door – before hiring any trader, check them out on reputable sites such as Bexley's 'What Tradesman?' scheme, where bona fide traders are rated by residents who have used them and can recommend them.”

Duncan Lewis Crime Solicitors

Duncan Lewis Crime Solicitors can advise at any stage of a charge involving fraud or serious fraud, including charges relating to:

Benefit fraud

Boiler room scams

Company fraud

Extortion

Financial fraud

Housing fraud

Immigration fraud

Insurance fraud

Investment fraud

Land banking schemes

Motor insurance fraud

Ponzi schemes

Rogue trading.

There are Duncan Lewis offices across England and Wales – and a Duncan Lewis criminal defence solicitor can attend interviews under caution with prosecuting authorities such as HMRC, The Insolvency Service, SFO, FCA, BEIS, City of London Police, DWP, Trading Standards and local authority counter-fraud teams.

Duncan Lewis can also advise on Confiscation Orders under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA).

For expert legal advice on fraud charges, call Duncan Lewis Criminal Solicitors on 0333 772 0409.

For 24/7 help at a police station, call the Duncan Lewis Solicitors 24-Hour Emergency Helpline on 0333 772 0607.