Allan, a 91-year-old man from Hornsea, East Yorkshire, found himself in a troubling situation after rogue traders allegedly took advantage of him. Initially, he called them in to repair a few loose tiles on his roof following Storm Darragh, but the situation escalated quickly. The builders ended up replacing the entire roof without Allan’s explicit request. Consequently, he was handed a hefty bill of £31,680, wiping out most of his life savings in one go. Humberside Police has since launched an investigation into the matter.
The distressing turn of events began when a passing window cleaner alerted Allan to a loose slate on his roof in the aftermath of Storm Darragh. Subsequently, builders arrived at his residence and commenced work, eventually replacing all the tiles on the roof. As the job unfolded, Allan grew increasingly bewildered, feeling overwhelmed by the scale of the unexpected renovation. Despite not actively seeking such extensive work, Allan found himself powerless as the workers swiftly went about their tasks, leaving him with a substantial bill and a sense of confusion.
Upon completion of the roof replacement, Allan was presented with a bill amounting to £31,680, catching him off guard. The roofers allegedly suggested that paying upfront would enable Allan to claim the expenses through insurance. However, his insurer, NatWest Home Insurance, clarified that they could not cover unapproved remedial work retroactively. The incident highlights the vulnerability of individuals like Allan in the face of sophisticated scams perpetrated by rogue traders, pointing to a systemic issue in need of redress.
Dr. Tim Day, a representative from the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, shed light on the prevalence of such fraudulent schemes and their detrimental impact on victims. These scams, which constitute a significant portion of Dr. Day’s caseload, not only result in financial losses but also take a toll on the mental well-being of those affected. Urging for better safeguards against rogue traders, Dr. Day emphasized the need for a mandatory national licensing scheme to hold traders accountable and protect consumers from falling prey to such illicit practices
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