Residents are warned on conmen
Residents are being warned to be on their guard from doorstep traders after a pensioner was charged hundreds of pounds for shoddy work.
In recent weeks residents across Dudley have been warned to watch out for letters claiming to be from a foreign bank.
Meanwhile, in Sandwell doorstep traders have been targeting residents and demanding cash for jobs that are shoddy or end up costing more than expected. And in the latest case, trading standards officers in Sandwell are investigating claims workers charged a pensioner £650 to prune two trees – then failed to clear up the mess.
Jeff Payton,aged 75, handed over the cash on the same day a stranger called at his Wednesbury home and offered to do the work.
Three men spent about four hours cutting back two 20ft sycamore trees on October 8 and promised to later return to clear up. But one month on and the mess still remains and now Mr Payton is now having to look for another firm to tidy it.
"I haven't got a lot of money. It's on my mind all the time," said the retired council worker.
Borough neighbourhood's boss, Councillor Ian Jones said: "Work carried out to a poor standard if it's done at all, often ends up with the homeowner paying another trader to put it right."
