PEOPLE have been urged to be vigilant when appointing traders to do work in their home or garden following reports of rogue traders in Dudley borough.

Residents can use the Fix A Home Scheme, operated by Dudley Council and Age UK, to find a trusted trader instead of accepting work from cold callers.

Dudley's Trading Standards team advise people to get at least three written quotes from traders who can provide official business documents, including full name and address, before having work carried out.

They also suggest that work should not be paid for in advance, only when it is finished and they are satisfied with what has been done.

Traders should always give a written receipt for any money paid and in most cases there has to be a cooling off period by law between being quoted for works and the work starting.

When a trader is offering waste disposal, the resident must ensure they are registered with the Environment Agency by checking their licence.

They should also ask to see the waste transfer notes, showing where the waste was disposed, in order to ensure it has been correctly handled, as they could be liable for any fly tipping.

Councillor Rachel Harris, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “We’re asking people to keep their wits about them whenever they are visited by people offering to do work to their home or garden.

“If people are concerned or if they know of someone who’s fallen victim to a rogue trader they can contact our Trading Standards team.”

For more information call trading standards on 01384 812045 or to view the council’s list of approved traders visit www.dudley.gov.uk/resident/your-council/trading-standards/fix-a-home.