A CHEEKY builder charged a vulnerable punter £4,600 to replace roof tiles – only to just paint over old ones to fake making them look new.
The victim was stunned and furious when he discovered the scam, which it later turned out had been captured by CCTV cameras.
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Now rogue trader roofer Peter Billdean Price must hand over thousands of pounds himself after admitting two counts of fraud.
He was tracked down by trading standards officials after a complaint was made in Mid Ceredigion in western Wales.
The homeowner had placed an online advert looking for a roofer, which prompted written promises from Price in January last year.
Price vowed to replace ridge tiles on the property – but CCTV footage later showed him arriving and leaving with just paints and painting tools.
It was revealed he and two others had merely painted existing tiles orange rather than replacing them – and spent less than three and a half hours there doing so.
He also ignored a series of phone calls from his unimpressed customer, who ultimately sought legal advice.
Trading standards officials from Ceredigion County Council tracked down aerial drone footage.
A chartered quantity surveyor viewed it and concluded Price was “evidently not a professional, competent and reputable roofer as the quality of the work was unacceptable”.
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He has now pleaded guilty to two fraud offences after the council brought a case against him at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court.
Price’s lawyer said he accepted the fee he charged was “excessive”, describing his client as “remorseful”.
He was sentenced to a 12-month community order including 150 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
He was also ordered to pay £4,081 in compensation to the victim, £1,000 prosecution costs and a £95 court surcharge.
Matthew Vaux, Ceredigion Council’s cabinet member for public protection, said afterwards: “At a time when a lot of households are struggling financially, this case shows the valuable work undertaken by the council`s public protection service.”
He said they were working “to protect individuals in our community against rogue traders and in turn bringing justice for those affected by these heartless criminals.”
Research by Nationwide has suggested almost half of people know someone who has had work done on their property that was so poor it required redoing afterwards.
Experts advise that a trader or their should be registered for a relevant accredited trade body – and you can report them to this organisation if you believe they haven’t met professional standards.
Consumer group Which? recommends choosing tradespeople who are signed up to an Alternative Dispute Resolutions scheme, which helps disputes get solved without going to court.
You can also report the tradesperson or company to Action Fraud or, if appropriate, to the police.
Checkatrade, a website which provides a director of vetted and recommended tradespeople. has suggested four red flags to watch out for spotting a rogue trader.
An expert in investigating cowboy builders has also issued an extensive “do’s and don’ts list” when considering who to hire.
A builder himself has recommended six questions to always ask, while another explained the signs which suggest you’re being ripped off.
