Police warning over builders
12th March, 2010
Police are warning residents to beware of a team of builders operating in the Durham area who are using dubious tactics to make a quick profit.
In the last two weeks officers in the city have received a number of complaints from residents regarding a team of builders operating in the Belmont / Carrville area. They offer to repair and re-lay driveways, stating that the work will take six weeks. Initially they say to the customer that the fee is payable on completion of the job, however after starting the work they then insist on full payment.
Once money has exchanged hands they then leave and do not return to finish what they started.
The local Trading Standards department is being informed and police say they will be conducting additional patrols in the area to provide reassurance to residents.
Two recent examples of the company's tactics came earlier this week; on 7th March the builders called at a house in Thorndale Road and asked the householder if he wanted his driveway re-surfacing and a fee of £1,800 was agreed.
However, the firm did not do all the work which had been outlined and when their victim questioned why they needed all the money in cash the manager started acting in an intimidating manner, stating that if the man did not pay up the firm would dump a truckload of rubble on the drive.
And on Thursday, 11th March a man living in Buckinghamshire Road reported a similar incident to police after the same firm asked for all the money up front and then never came back to finish the job.
Both men say other residents living nearby have been the victim of shoddy or unfinished work by the same builders.
PC Steve LONG of the Durham Neighbourhood Policing Team said police powers in such cases were limited as contracts between workmen and householders were essentially civil matters.
"We are liaising with trading standards and passing on all the relevant information to them. In the meantime, we would urge residents to be cautious when considering this type of work, and to ensure they make proper checks regarding builders before parting with any money."
