Rogue builder carried out ‘poor quality work’ at home
A rogue builder who left work “unfinished” and “of poor quality” has received a suspended sentence after he was taken to court by Dudley Trading Standards.
Allan Tromans, aged 73, who traded as Westmids Construction Ltd, pleaded guilty at Wolverhampton Crown Court in March, to offences contrary to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
The court heard how he failed to demonstrate “professional diligence” when he obtained more than £31,000 for work to a consumer’s house – which was left unfinished and of poor quality.
He also attempted to obtain an additional fee of just under £19,000 to complete work that he had already been contracted for – meaning the homeowner would have paid out £51,000 in total.
When the work was inspected by an independent surveyor, the true cost of the work – if it had been completed correctly – should have cost no more than £31,000.
The surveyor also identified remedial repairs of £10,500 that needed to be carried out to correct the work undertaken by Tromans.
In addition, Tromans pleaded guilty to making a false representation that the price for the work that he had quoted for was a fair and reasonable price, when it was not. Tromans also pleaded guilty to making a false representation that at the time the offences were committed he was trading as a limited company, when his company had in fact been dissolved sometime previously.
The court also heard how the victim was not given his cancellation rights as required under the regulations.
Distress
On June 8, Tromans appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court and was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to pay the consumer £5,000 in compensation.
Councillor Nicolas Barlow, Dudley Council’s cabinet member for health and adult social care, said: “This prosecution sends out a clear message we will protect consumers from the activity of rogue traders who flout the law and carry out unnecessary and sub standard work.
“This kind of activity causes a huge amount distress to the victims who have worked hard and saved to pay for repairs to their homes and are then badly let down.”
The council advises people to ‘know their rights’. They have seven days to cancel any contract they have signed in your own home.
They say people should never allow a trader to start work there and then. They should also give themselves time to think about whether they really want or need the work to be carried out.
People should never pay for work in full before it is completed - a legitimate trader will never ask for anything more than a small deposit.
Always ask for a receipt detailing the work done. If a trader refuses to do this, don’t pay them and call Trading Standards.
