rogue traders

Trading Standards and police warn against rogue traders

Trading Standards and police officers have visited communities throughout Somerset this week in a joint initiative to highlight the dangers of rogue traders and forceful doorstep sellers.

And next week it’s the turn of Devon with a series of information events planned throughout the county.

Over two days officers from the Devon, Somerset and Torbay Trading Standards Service (...

Rogue traders target elderly in Plymouth

Police are urging householders to be on their guard for a gang of rogue traders targeting elderly people in Plymouth and Exeter.

Detectives are investigating a number of reports of men calling at pensioners’ homes over Easter weekend deploying high-pressure tactics to carry out so-called ‘essential’ work on their properties. The victims have then been forced to pay thousands of pounds...

Day of action on rogue doorstep traders

Legitimate businesses in East Devon are giving Devon and Somerset Trading Standards Service a helping hand in its fight against rogue traders.

Devon and Somerset Trading Standards Service, Devon & Cornwall Police, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and HMRC all took part in a day-long operation.

Trading Standards officers and Police Community Support Officers talked to...

Rogue traders plead guilty to fraud

Two rogue traders have pleaded guilty to fraud at Newton Abbot Magistrates Court following an investigation by Devon and Somerset Trading Standards.

Bryan Ferren, aged 38 and Kevin Hogg aged 41, both of Clifton Court, Clifton Road, Paignton, admitted to conning over £70,000 out of 17 elderly Devon residents over a 13 month period.

The court heard how, between November 2012 and...

Rogue traders who targeted elderly jailed

Three men found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the vulnerable and elderly for shoddy and unnecessary home repair work, were sentenced today at Exeter Crown Court in a case brought by Devon and Somerset Trading Standards Service.

Thomas Maughan, 27, and Thomas Mahon, 46, were each sent to prison for 12 months for their part in the fraud.

Both had pleaded not guilty but were...

Stay alert to rogue traders

Devon and Somerset Trading Standards is reminding the public to stay alert to rogue traders after residents are conned out of thousands of pounds.

The shoddy work cost victims thousands more to make good the poor standard of work.

The Trading Standards service has received a number of complaints about unsolicited visits from doorstep traders, including one that claimed to be...

Elderly women fall victim to rogue traders

Police and Trading Standards are appealing for information after two elderly women were conned out of thousands of pounds on their doorstep, leaving their property in poor condition.

The victims, who are in their late 70s, have been cold called at their home in the Leigham area of Plymouth on three different occasions and conned out of money.

A number of months ago the women...

Rogue traders found guilty for offences in Plymouth and Exeter

Partnership working between Devon and Somerset Trading Standards Service, Plymouth City Council Trading Standards, and Devon and Cornwall Constabulary claimed a success today, as two doorstep rogue traders pleaded guilty to fraud and Consumer Protection offences at Taunton Crown Court.

James Doran (29) of Quedgely in Gloucester and Patrick Connors (23) of Hatfield in Hertfordshire,...