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Builder arrested on suspicion of rogue trading

PR                                                                                                                                                                                                                  8 April 2025

Builder arrested on suspicion of rogue trading

A builder has been arrested in St Albans on suspicion of rogue trading offences.

On Saturday 5 April a man in his 90s attended his bank in St Albans and tried to transfer £25,000 to another account. Due to the large sum, the bank checked the account and saw that £40,000 had already been transferred to the same account in cheques that same week. The bank invoked the banking protocol and informed the police. 

Officers attended the man’s home and inspected the building works and judged that the amount charged for the work was excessive. The builder, a 28-year-old man from Milton Keynes, was located and arrested on suspicion of fraud. 

Detective Sergeant Anna Luxon, from the Serious Fraud and Cyber Unit, said: “We’d ask people to please share this advice with their friends, relatives and neighbours, especially those who may be elderly or vulnerable. 

“If you suspect rogue trading may be taking place or that you may have been a victim, please report it to police straight away.”

Typically, rogue trading sees an individual or a group of people call at your door unannounced and offer to do work on your home or garden that will be either unnecessary or vastly over-priced, such as repairing tiles on your roof or removing a ‘dangerous’ tree from your front garden.

The constabulary offers the following advice:

  • Do not accept any services that are offered by people knocking on your door. Instead, find a reliable trader by using the Which? Trusted Traders website at https://trustedtraders.which.co.uk/ Which? works jointly with Hertfordshire Trading Standards to help find trustworthy, reputable traders who offer good customer service.
  • Be wary if a trader tries to increase the size or cost of the job once they have started work.
  • Don’t be rushed into a decision about having work done, take your time to speak to friends and family, get their opinion and get other traders to quote and give their opinions before going ahead with work.
  • Ensure you have a detailed written contract outlining the work to take place, how long it will take and the materials to be used.
  • Make sure that you know where the trader is based – traders are legally obliged to include their company’s address on contracts.
  • Know your rights in relation to cooling off periods and cancellation of contracts.

    • For further advice and information visit:

    https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/business/consumer-advice/consumer-advice.aspx  

    https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/about-the-council/contact-us/trading-standards.aspx 

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    Daniel Huntley
    (Hertfordshire Constabulary, Supervisor PCSO, St Albans - London Colney)
    Neighbourhood Alert