DON’T BE FOOLED BY AN OFFER THAT LOOKS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

Residents are being warned of a home-working scam after a North East Lincolnshire woman received an offer of work which sounded too good to be true.

In a letter received through the post, Cleethorpes resident Anne Elvin was offered payment of £550 for filling just 500 envelopes with leaflets, or £480 for producing 60 pages of copy typing.

With such high rates for relatively little work, the offer seemed an attractive one – but Mrs Elvin became suspicious when she read she was required to pay the company an up-front fee of £30 to register. Consequently she reported the matter to local Trading Standards officers.

Mrs Elvin said: “I’ve heard about things like this before, things which promise high returns for work at home.

“You have to send £30 for the initial stationary, and that’s what they do.

“I looked this company up on the internet, and it appears that there are quite a few people who had sent in the money and received nothing in return.

“In these times of the recession when people are desperate for money, people need to be aware of the risks. There must be lots of people who can’t afford that £30.”

The company offering such services has appeared in the national press alongside numerous complaints from people who had paid their registration fee and received no work or payment afterwards.

Councillor Steve Beasant, portfolio holder for safer communities and public protection, said: “Mrs Elvin was right to be cautious about this work offer.

“This firm demanded money in exchange of a promise of work, and as it turns out there have been complaints about them across the country.

“It is important that people like Mrs Elvin contact us about such scams; this allows us to make other people aware.”

Andy Foster, trading standards manager at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “If you are approached by someone offering a lucrative income – but only after you pay them an up-front fee – you should be very cautious.

“Companies quite simply don’t make money by paying over the odds for basic services such as copy typing, and it is easy to see how some scams really make their money – by duping innocent people who are simply looking for an honest income.

“Anyone who is suspicious of an offer of work such as this should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.”

MOTOR TRADERS STEER CUSTOMERS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Trading standards officers have put car purchasers in the driving seat by signing up a new car businesses to its Motor Trade Partnership.

Grimsby Cars Ltd, of Humber Street, are the newest members to join the Motor Trade Partnership scheme, run by North East Lincolnshire Council’s trading standards team.

Membership means would-be car customers can have confidence and trust in the businesses they are buying goods from. And Grimsby Cars Ltd, run by Kenny Gilmore and Mike Croft, have signed up to the partnership after a period working with the trading standards team.

Trading standards works closely with the businesses to resolve consumer complaints, to promote the benefits for consumers of shopping with members, to inform them of any changes in the law and to conduct an annual audit to ensure high standards are being maintained.

Councillor Steve Beasant, portfolio holder for community safety and public protection, said: “The excellent customer services offered by members of the Motor Trade Partnership should encourage consumers to shop with confidence.”

Andy Foster, the council’s trading standards manager, said: “A few rogue traders can damage the reputation of many legitimate businesses. The Motor Trade Partnership provides consumers with a means of identifying garages that go the extra mile in attending to their customers’ needs and assurance that Members comply with the spirit and the letter of the law.”

If you are a business and would like further information on the scheme or are a consumer and would like a list of members, go to www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/nelincs or contact Trading Standards through Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06.

BE ALERT; AND DON’T BE “BLUFFED” BY COLD CALLERS

TRADING Standards officers have made a fresh warning about the dangers of cold callers after a gang thought to have operated in the area in the past re-emerged in North East Lincolnshire.

Certain members of the gang are now being questioned by police and trading standards officers after a series of reports that they were failing to allow customers a seven-day "cooling off period" required by law before beginning work.

But trading standards are warning other traders may still be operating in Cleethorpes and Grimsby, and warned residents not to do deals on their doorsteps.

The gang are thought to have offered patio and drive services to at least three potential customers in Cleethorpes, who raised the alarm with trading standards.

Councillor Steve Beasant, portfolio holder for community safety and public protection, said: "The key message is to be wary of people who call at your home or phone unannounced - and to never do business on your doorstep for jobs on your home.

"If you've already been approached and are worried - seek advice. If you find that you have succumbed to the offer of a cheap job once, do not allow the trader to offer to do more work for you and call trading standards instead. It is never too late, even if you have committed to what you understand is a contract."

The council has already made moves to protect homeowners from cold callers and rogue traders, with No Cold Calling Zones across the borough. These zones aim to raise public awareness of the dangers of cold callers. Signs are displayed along the street informing potential cold callers that local residents are aware of the dangers and unlikely to fall for any ploy.

If you need to have large or small works done to your home, then residents can check out those traders that are in the council's Home Services Directory first. These traders have been vetted by the Trading Standards Department and should do a fair and reasonable job for a reasonable price. The list can be used for your own peace of mind.

The list is available by clicking onto the website www.hsd.org.uk. Call Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 for any other trading standards advice.