Householders are falling prey to unscrupulous builders, despite numerous warnings from the OFT.

Cowboy builders who visit the Isle of Man for a few days before moving on are leaving their victims out of pocket.

Chief inspector of trading standards at the Office of Fair Trading, John Peet said: 'Typically, these builders will make unsolicited visits to homes, pester householders into having work done, whether or not it actually needs to be done, and then carry out work to a very poor standard. There is no doubt that the most unscrupulous itinerant builders target the elderly as potential victims.'

Householders are being warned not to pay cash up front, not to be pressurised into having work done, calling the police or the OFT if they are being pestered by a so-called builder, and asking for time to think before agreeing to having work done. Check to see if the business name is properly registered on http://www.gov.im/ded/pvi/pvi_fr.html


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