By Freddy

08/01/2024

New Area Open Cheshire -

Stay informed and safe in Cheshire From Rogue Trader Cheshire - Trading Standards Cheshire - Real-Time Alerts About Rogue Traders and Cowboy Builders. By Freddy

08/01/2024

New Area Open Cambridgeshire

Rogue Trader Cambridgeshire - Trading Standards Cambridgeshire - Real-Time Alerts About Rogue Traders and Cowboy Builders - By Freddy

08/01/2024

New Area Open - Bristol https://byfreddy.com/county/rogue-trader-bristol/

08/01/2024

New Area Open - Bristol

Stay informed and safe in Bristol From Rogue Trader Bristol - Trading Standards Bristol - Real-Time Alerts About Rogue Traders. Real Time Alerts - By Freddy

08/01/2024

New Area Open - Brighton

Stay safe in Brighton From The Rogue Trader Brighton - Trading Standards Brighton - Real-Time Alerts About Rogue Traders and Cowboy Builders - By Freddy

08/01/2024

New Area Open - Bournemouth

Stay safe in Bournemouth From Rogue Trader Bournemouth - Trading Standards Bournemouth - Real-Time Alerts About Rogue Traders & Cowboy Builders - By Freddy

03/01/2024

Calling All Apple Users! Ready to Protect yourself from rogue traders? Download App to Today https://apps.apple.com/us/app/byfreddy/id6473270159

27/12/2023

Calling all Android users! 📱 Ready to protect yourself from rogue traders? Download our app today: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rouge.trader.uk.byfreddy 🛡️ "

22/12/2023

A rogue trader named Robert Christopher Hughes has been sentenced to three years and four months in jail after defrauding an elderly Swindon couple. Hughes admitted to two charges of fraud dating back to October 2019. He operated through his company, Newstone Driveways and Patios Limited, which was dissolved in 2021. The victims paid £8,250 to Hughes for work, including a replacement driveway and patio, but a surveyor's inspection revealed that the driveway had been incorrectly built above the level of the property's damp-proof course and needed to be rebuilt. Hughes was sentenced to two years and three years for the fraud offenses, to run concurrently, and an additional four months for his repeated failure to attend court. He will serve half of the three-year and four-month sentence before being released on licence. Hughes had previous convictions for similar offenses, including defrauding an elderly lady in 2011 and defrauding five other victims in 2017.

Source: [Swindon Advertiser]

A ROGUE trader who defrauded an elderly Swindon couple has been jailed.

22/12/2023

An Aberdeen woman has spoken out about her encounter with an "aggressive" bogus salesman who posed as a reformed prisoner and tried to pressure her into buying oven gloves. Residents in the north-east have been warned about such scam callers, who claim to be selling cleaning products as part of their efforts to turn their lives around. However, authorities have raised concerns that these individuals may be using this ruse to scout for valuables or access points for potential robberies. Authorities advise residents to exercise caution and ask for identification when faced with such suspicious callers.

Source: [Press and Journal]

The bogus salesmen could be visiting to scout for valuables or look for any easy access points.

22/12/2023

Residents across the north-east are being urged to be vigilant as rogue doorstep callers attempt to sell various cleaning products, including oven gloves. Aberdeenshire Trading Standards has issued a warning regarding scam callers operating in the region. These callers, posing as part of a prison release scheme, former prisoners, or discharged army personnel, claim to be selling cleaning products as they turn their lives around. However, authorities warn that these individuals may be scouting for valuables or access points to return and rob properties later. Residents are advised to exercise caution and not engage with these suspicious callers. It's important to ask for identification and report any concerns to the appropriate authorities.

Source: [Press and Journal]

The bogus salesmen could be visiting to scout for valuables or look for any easy access points.

04/12/2023

🚨 Alert: Our app is launching next Thursday, and we've identified our first rogue trader! Have info on a rogue? Share details with us:

https://byfreddy.com/wesley_james_wilson_wilsons_roofing_limited__west_midlands_5e68ff31/

Expose Wesley James Wilson of Wilsons Roofing Limited, a rogue trader. Protect your community with ByFreddy. Warning Received. Trading Standards Birmingham

30/11/2023

🚨 Urgent Alert: Beware of Rogue Traders in Darley Dale! 🚨

Derbyshire Police have issued a warning about a suspicious incident involving potential rogue traders. Three men in a white van offered roof work, initially quoting £1,000, but quickly dropped to £600. Despite the homeowner refusing, they insisted on going to a cash machine. Stay vigilant and report any such incidents. Your safety is our priority.

For more details, read the full article: [Link](https://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/news/crime/police-warn-residents-of-derbyshire-town-after-suspicious-incident-involving-potential-rogue-traders-4428618)

Residents in a Derbyshire town were urged to stay vigilant after reports of a suspicious incident involving possible rogue traders.

29/11/2023

🌟 Community Compassion Prevails! 🌟

Winsford rallies together to aid Ann Rowlands, 81, scammed out of £20,000 by rogue roofers. 🏠 Local traders and builders offer free repairs, restoring hope and faith in humanity. 🤝💙 Let's stand united against rogue traders!

Read Ann's Story

A community stepped in to help after Ann Rowlands lost her savings over unnecessary roof repairs.

28/11/2023

🔍 BREAKING NEWS: Justice Served for Rogue Trader's Victims! 🔍

In a significant win against rogue traders, company director Rebecca Wilson, 40, of Riverside Resin, has been jailed for defrauding 16 householders in Hartlepool out of tens of thousands of pounds with shoddy home improvement work.

Key Details:
🚨 Charges: Wilson admitted 17 fraud charges and 15 unfair trading offences.
⚖️ Sentence: Jailed for three years and one month.
🛑 Restrictions: Banned from being a company director and prohibited from working in driveway or resin surface installation.

Background:
Operating between 2019 and 2021, Wilson's company promised improvements to driveways, paths, patios, and garages. However, residents were left with poor, faulty, unfinished, or non-existent work, costing victims at least £100,000.

Victims Speak Out:
Hartlepool customers suffered emotional and financial distress, with one victim losing £47,660 and another enduring a loss of £12,600. The court heard about the profound impact on their lives.

Justice Prevails:
Rebecca Wilson's fraudulent behavior has been rightfully addressed, bringing justice to the victims who endured financial losses and emotional turmoil.

🌐 For full details, follow the link: Read Full Article

24/11/2023

🚨 **BREAKING NEWS: Justice Served for Rogue Trader's Victim!** 🚨

In a significant victory against rogue traders, Lee Holliday, 41, has been jailed for targeting an elderly man in Dogsthorpe, Peterborough. Holliday's cold and callous actions included demanding money for unnecessary roof work.

**Key Details:**
🔒 **Jail Sentence:** Lee Holliday sentenced to six months in prison.
💰 **Compensation:** Ordered to pay £665 in compensation to the victim.
🛑 **Restraining Order:** Holliday handed a restraining order.

🔍 **Background:**
Holliday first claimed to spot an issue with the victim's roof, demanding £800 for unnecessary work. Exploiting the victim's vulnerability, he persisted, extracting over £1,300 in total. Fortunately, the victim's brother and neighbor reported Holliday to the police, leading to his arrest.

👏 **Justice Prevails:**
Detective Constable Andrew Donaldson, praising the outcome, stated, "Holliday was cold and callous... justice has been done today."

**Our Mission Continues:**
This success reinforces our commitment to exposing rogue traders. Stay vigilant, report incidents, and let's build safer communities together!



For more details, follow the link: [Read Full Article](https://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/news/crime/jail-for-cold-and-callous-rogue-trader-who-targeted-peterborough-pensioner-4418450)

Lee Holliday ordered to pay his elderly victim hundreds of pounds in compensation

18/11/2023

**Alert: Beware of Cowboy Builders in Chester and Cheshire West!**

Residents are urged to stay vigilant as cowboy builders are increasingly using social media scams to target people across Chester and the Cheshire West region, according to the council's trading standards officers. The rogues employ tactics such as fake online reviews and swift responses to homeowners' requests on local social media groups.

To protect yourself and your community:

1. **Get Recommendations:** Seek advice from friends, family, or trusted sources.
2. **Avoid Pressure:** Don't feel rushed into decisions with limited-time offers.
3. **Check Qualifications:** Request details of qualifications, insurance, and valid registrations.
4. **Be Wary of Online-Only Contact:** Using online messaging as the sole contact method is a red flag.
5. **Verify Identity:** If third parties are involved (e.g., electricians), confirm their details, competency, and registration.
6. **Review Previous Work:** Ask for examples and contact previous clients for feedback.
7. **Check Business Status:** Verify if they are a limited/non-limited business and registered for VAT.
8. **Verify with Authorities:** Check accounts at Companies House and building regulations with the council.
9. **Detailed Quotes and Contracts:** Ensure you have a comprehensive written quote and contract.
10. **Cooling Off Period:** You're entitled to a 14-day cooling-off period; be cautious if asked to waive this right.

Cllr Christine Warner, the council's cabinet member for homes, planning, and safer communities, emphasizes the need to be cautious, especially when builders are "instantly available" on social media. Reputable companies are usually booked in advance.

Spread the word and report suspicious activities to protect your community! Read more about this alert [here](https://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/23927350.chester-cowboy-builders-using-apps-scam-residents/). Stay informed, stay safe!

COWBOY builders are targeting people across Chester and Cheshire with social media scams, residents have been warned.

09/11/2023

Elderly Woman Scammed by Rogue Roofer - Stay Alert!

In a distressing incident, Mervyn Rhys Richards, trading as MR Build IT Property Maintenance, conned an elderly Somerset woman out of her life savings by charging £27,500 for an unnecessary roof replacement. Richards, 43, of Swindon, persuaded his vulnerable victim to authorize work on her roof that was later deemed worthless by a surveyor.

Taunton Magistrates' Court ordered Richards to pay nearly £40,000 in fines and compensation after he pleaded guilty. The breakdown includes a £6,500 fine, a £190 victim surcharge, £4,250 towards prosecution costs, and £27,500 in compensation to the victim.

Responding to a job advert in March 2022, Richards convinced the elderly homeowner that a roof repair could only be "guaranteed" through a replacement, costing a staggering £27,500. Suspecting a scam, the victim contacted Avon and Somerset Police, leading to an investigation by Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service.

An independent surveyor later examined the roof and found the work unnecessary, overcharged, not in accordance with standards, and estimated its value to be nil due to required remedial work.

Stay vigilant and report suspicious activity to protect your community! Read the full story [here](https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/rogue-trader-conned-somerset-woman-8894957.amp).

Mervyn Rhys Richards - who was trading as MR Build IT Property - must pay out £38,440 after convincing the woman into paying for a shoddy replacement roof she did not need

08/11/2023

08/11/2023

**URGENT ALERT**: Be Wary of Rogue Traders Post-Storm Ciaran!

Devon County Council's Trading Standards service is calling on residents, especially the elderly and vulnerable, to stay vigilant against rogue traders seeking to exploit damage caused by Storm Ciaran.

The recent heavy rain and powerful winds have left properties vulnerable to damage, including fencing, trees, sheds, roof tiles, guttering, and garden equipment.

Heart of the South West Trading Standards advises rejecting offers from cold callers, which may include individuals posing as tree surgeons, roofers, and other tradespeople who show up uninvited.

Stay informed by reading the full article here: [Read More](https://www.middevonadvertiser.co.uk/news/storm-ciaran-beware-of-rogue-traders-says-devon-county-council-648175)

And remember, ByFreddy is here to help protect your interests!

DEVON County Council's (DCC) trading standards service is urging householders, particularly the elderly and vulnerable, to be on their guard for rogue traders who might try to take advantage of the damage caused to property by Storm Ciaran.

08/11/2023

Vulnerable Couple Scammed by Rogue Roofer in Wales - Beware!

In an outrageous incident, a vulnerable couple with learning difficulties in Pembrokeshire, North Wales, fell victim to a rogue roofer named Toby Price. He charged them a staggering £4,500 for a job worth only £100. The couple, who spotted a damp patch on their ceiling and a slipped roof tile, hired Price under the name "Best Price Roofing Services." Initially, he charged them £800 for a roof tile replacement, claiming it was due to insurance, but the actual cost was just £80 plus VAT.

However, Price's deceitful tactics didn't end there. He convinced the couple that their chimney stack was in imminent danger of collapsing through the roof, posing a risk to the wife, who had mobility issues. He claimed the repair, usually priced at £8,000, was essential and offered to do it for "four or five thousand." Under duress and the fear of impending danger, the couple reluctantly agreed and paid £4,500. Price spent a mere 45 minutes with a trowel and a bucket of cement on the roof before leaving, never to return.

This case came to light when the couple's usual maintenance company returned, learned of the fraudulent work, and contacted Pembrokeshire Council. In court, Price pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud by false representation and one count of unfair commercial practices.

Despite the impact on the victims, the judge suspended Price's 15-month prison sentence for 18 months, considering his young children and role as a carer for his mother. He was also ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation course. The victims may pursue further compensation from the defendant through civil court.

Stay vigilant and report rogue traders to protect your community! Read the full story https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1832716/welsh-rogue-roofer-pembrokeshire-overcharges-vulnerable-couple

A rogue roofer in Wales has caused outrage by charging a vulnerable Pembrokeshire couple '£4,500 for a £100 job'.

08/11/2023

**URGENT ALERT**: Beware of Rogue Trader Alan Middleton!

Alan Middleton, 45, formerly of Saxmundham but residing in Warwickshire, operated under various aliases like GK Builders, G&K Builders, Middleton Building Services, AGM Custom Construction, and AGM Bespoke Construction Limited. He ran his scam across Suffolk, amassing a staggering £592,000 from unsuspecting customers.

This fraudster was recently sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court in London for his deceitful activities. The investigation uncovered various tactics used by Middleton to extract more money from his victims, including falsifying supplier invoices and using a fake VAT number.

Middleton and his wife enjoyed lavish holidays, frequent visits to London, caravans at holiday parks, and shopping trips, all funded by his ill-gotten gains. He even paid for a holiday for his employees.

This fraudulent trader used a forged Federation of Master Builders insurance document to deceive his clients.

Middleton has been sentenced to four years and six months in jail and is disqualified as a director for five years. He was also jailed for fraudulently obtaining a mortgage, along with his wife, who received a nine-month suspended sentence.

Please stay vigilant and report any suspicious activities to protect your community. For more details, read the full article [here](https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/23905143.alan-middleton-jailed-suffolk-trading-standards-probe/).

And remember, ByFreddy is here to help you watch out for rogue traders in your area!

Alan Middleton, a rogue trader from Saxmundham, has been jailed following an investigation by Suffolk Trading Standards.

07/11/2023

**Rogue Trader Alert**: Swindon Builder Jailed for Defrauding Victims

James Michael Hookey, a Swindon builder, has been sentenced to 15 months in prison for defrauding 18 people out of nearly £20,000 while running a fraudulent building and gardening business. Hookey admitted to scamming residents in Swindon and the M4 corridor by providing misleading information, failing to complete work paid for in advance, and demanding money for subpar work.

His threatening and intimidating behavior towards customers who challenged him was part of his modus operandi. During sentencing, His Honour Judge Lambert characterized Hookey's actions as "abuse and harassment," inflicting misery on his victims.

This case was the result of a lengthy investigation by the Swindon Trading Standards Service and the National Trading Standards South West Regional Investigation team, hosted by Bristol City Council.

Councillor Jim Grant of Swindon Borough Council labeled Hookey's behavior as "appalling" and warned that officers will continue to target rogue traders in Swindon. Hookey will serve half of his sentence before being released on licence.

If you suspect a rogue trader in your area, report it to the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline at 0808 223 1133 or via the Citizens Advice website.

For full details, please read the article [here](https://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/23901967.swindon-builder-jailed-scamming-victims-nearly-20k/).

Stay vigilant and protect your community from rogue traders!

An “abusive” builder who defrauded and “inflicted misery on his victims” has been jailed.

07/11/2023

🚨 **URGENT ALERT: Be Vigilant Against Rogue Traders** 🚨

Residents of South Staffordshire, be on guard! Rogue traders are targeting the area, and the elderly are especially vulnerable. Doorstep criminals pressure individuals into unnecessary or overpriced work.

Don't feel rushed into work. If approached, call Staffordshire Police at 101 for help.

For more information, read the full article here: [Read More](https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Newsroom/Articles/2023/11-November/People-urged-to-be-on-the-lookout-for-rogue-traders.aspx)

People in parts of South Staffordshire are being urged to be on their guard for rogue traders targeting residents in the area.

05/09/2023

🛑 Another distressing case of trust betrayed! 😡 This story of a serial rogue trader who exploited a pensioner for a whopping £25,000 over a £320 job is a stark reminder that our construction industry needs a serious overhaul.

Read the shocking details: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11879221/Rogue-roofer-37-fleeced-pensioner-25-000-job-cost-just-300-jailed.html

🚫 The system is broken, and innocent people are suffering. It's time for change! Introducing byfreddy.com - our upcoming app that will empower you to stay vigilant and report suspicious behavior. Let's ensure no one falls victim to deceitful traders again.

Stay tuned for updates on how we're revolutionizing the construction industry! 🏗️💪

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11879221/Rogue-roofer-37-fleeced-pensioner-25-000-job-cost-just-300-jailed.html

George Austin, 37, quoted the lower price when persuading his victim that she needed a new roof - but soon upped the figure to a staggering £25,000.

01/09/2023

🔍 How can we trust tradespeople like this? 👀 Check out this alarming story: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-suffolk-66305927

The construction industry needs a revolution, and it starts with us. Introducing the byfreddy.com app – your vigilant watchfrog 🐸 against rogue traders. Coming soon, our app empowers you to stay alert, report suspicious behavior, and safeguard your projects.

Stay tuned for updates and be ready to be part of the change! 🛠️🚧

Research by the BBC reveals a rise in rogue trader reports across the UK.