Rogue trader warning after £9k roof tiles scam

Suffolk Trading Standards encouraged people to use its trusted trader webpage (stock photo)

A county council has issued a plea after an increase in residents being scammed by rogue traders.

Suffolk Trading Standards - part of Suffolk County Council - urged anyone thinking of undertaking home improvements to ensure they used a vetted and approved trader.

A spokesperson said a resident in Brandon village was told a new roof costing £29,900 was needed, because of two broken tiles.

Community engagement officer Sasha Watson said similar incidents were happening "week after week".

The resident in Brandon was quoted £2,000 for the roof tiles, the local authority said.

They paid a £9,000 deposit by cheque. Follow-up cheques of £13,000 and £8,000 were frozen by their bank.

Another resident in Hadleigh lost £7,600 when they were scammed over new insulation, despite living in a new-build property.

Suffolk Trusted Trader website was launched in September in partnership with Norfolk Trading Standards.

"We need as many traders to join and we need people searching on there," she added.