Politicians from across the UK and from all political parties have thrown their weight behind the latest FMB campaign.
The FMB's "Beware the Summer Doorknockers" awareness campaign has received an unprecedented amount of support from politicians. Some politicians have got in touch requesting supplies of campaign literature to distribute through their constituency offices, while others have contacted us with messages of support and offers of help.
Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP Diane Abbott wrote to the FMB to say, "I agree with you that it is important to prevent rogue traders from preying on people and conning people out of money. I wish you luck with your campaign."
Green Party MSP, Robin Harper contacted the FMB to tell us of his own experience of rogue traders, "I first became aware of this practice when visiting my late father 20 years ago, when a door knocker volunteered to mend a broken roof tile. Subsequent inspection of damage to a wall that provided access to the roof corner showed they had probably caused the damage themselves at an earlier date, and were round to cash in. I persuaded my father to promise never to speak to these people under any circumstances well done for the campaign."
The FMB is hugely encouraged by the level of support its campaign has received and is currently working with several politicians to help raise the profile of this very important issue.
See our Beware the Summer Doorknockers campaign on our consumer site.
23 August 2007
Thousands of householders* are fleeced every year in Britain, mostly over the summer months, by rogue door-to-door home maintenance traders masquerading as professionals, selling anything from roofing repairs, guttering and gardening services to path and driveway work.
This summer, homeowners in flood-affected areas are especially vulnerable as they look to repair damage to their homes.
These rogue callers frighten their potential targets by suggesting they have loose tiles, problems with pointing, damp or guttering, or that their driveway is in need of repair. They lie and cheat to extort money in return for little or no work at all and last year stole over £1.36 billion** from unsuspecting homeowners across Britain.
The Federation of Master Builders says its time for UK homeowners to wise up to these bogus builders, and has produced a leaflet explaining how best to deal with these cold callers. "Never, ever, employ someone offering building services at the door" is the advice of the FMB, the UK's largest building trade association, a message endorsed by Trading Standards.
Says Brian Berry, FMB external affairs director: "We are making a stand to distance professional builders from the crooks and rogues who operate at the edges of our industry and swindle people out of millions of pounds. Anyone who turns up at the door and tries to frighten you into having work done is a crook. A decent tradesperson will have a queue of customers waiting for them to start work on their home - they won't have time to knock on your door."
"Homeowners should only ever employ builders who have been recommended to them, or who are proven members of a reputable trade association such as the FMB, and who can provide them with references, which they should check out," Brian added.
Steve Playle of the Trading Standards 'Scambusters' Team said he was delighted that the UK's largest building trade association was highlighting this growing problem. "British homeowners spend more than £13.6 billion on property repair and maintenance, and we reckon at least 10% of that figure is paid out to crooks involved in cold-calling scams or to traders who simply out to rip off consumers. With a rising elderly population and increased home ownership, this problem is getting worse. Trading Standards is working with the police and community groups throughout the country to raise awareness, and we are delighted that FMB is adding its weight to the campaign," said Steve.
To help homeowners spot the tricks rogue callers use, the FMB has produced a "Nail the rogues" advisory leaflet with tips on how to spot bogus tradespeople, and how to ward them off. FMB has also produced a door sticker to warn off unwanted doorknockers.
For further advice on dealing with problem callers, or if you have been a victim, contact Trading Standards on 08454 04 05 06.
*Consumer Direct (Office of Fair Trading) figures for 2006-7
** Figure supplied by Trading Standards.
09 August 2007
The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) today added its weight to the rapidly growing business lobby against the recommendation by MPs that local authorities be given the power to levy unlimited supplementary business rates.
Brian Berry, FMB Director of External Affairs said:
"I can't believe they think that this is a good idea. The proposal is essentially to give the local authority the power to destroy the local economy at will for short term political gain. Businesses, and particularly small business are already under enough pressure with rising interest rates and utilities bills, this could be the final burden that sends many businesses under."
"MPs need to shed this outdated idea that business is a bunch of cigar smoking city fat cats in pin striped suites rolling about in cash which can be taken at will without any adverse effects. The vast majority of businesses in this country are small enterprises struggling with the every day needs of running a business, and simultaneously having to bear the ever increasing burdens placed on them by government. MPs need to understand that most businesses are formed of a small number of hard working people, often families, trying to earn a living."
07 August 2007
Illegal Construction Has No Place in Today's Construction Market, says Federation of Master Builders
"New government measures to stamp out cowboy builders and illegal construction are a welcome step to help improve the image of the construction sector", says Brian Berry, Director of External Affairs at the Federation of Master Builders.
Responding to the Government's proposal to increase the time limit in which local authorities have to bring a prosecution for breaches of building regulations from six months to two years Berry said,
"Honest, hard working builders have nothing to fear from these proposals which do much to protect and enhance their reputation and eliminate the cowboy builders who are damaging the building industry's image. We are reassured that the proposals will create no new burdens for fully compliant builders."
01 August 2007
|
