TRAFFORD residents are being warned against using door-to-door traders after a spate of incidents.

In the past month Trading Standards has received 10 complaints of rogue traders offering to do gardening work, roofing, paving and other odd jobs.

The work is often priced low but can escalate to hundreds or thousands of pounds.

Executive councillor Jonathan Coupe said: "Very often these people target elderly or vulnerable residents and intimidate them into having extra work which they neither want nor need.

"The work is often shoddy and may not even have been done. These traders are usually impossible to trace after the work has been done because they often use untraceable mobile phones, therefore it is difficult to seek compensation from them.

“I would urge people to think before accepting offers from door to door traders and to seek a registered and reputable tradesperson to do the job you require. Trading Standards advise never to do business on the door."

People planning on getting work done on their home should, whenever possible, ask for a number of references from people who have had work done previously by the contractor. Any reputable builder or trader should be able to provide this information.

Anyone who agrees to work when at home should be given written ‘Notice of Right to Cancel’.This gives consumers seven days before the work can begin to get other quotes and consider their decision.

Failure to provide this is a criminal offence and traders are not entitled to payment until this has been issued to the customer.

For advice on choosing a trader phone Trafford trading standards on 0161 912 1377 or if you are concerned about a trader phone GMP on 0161 872 5050.