Surrey News
trading standards
Trading Standards investigation leads to three year sentence for fraudsters
A fraudster and his accomplice have both received prison sentences after being found guilty of scamming residents as unqualified roofers, following a Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards investigation. James Smith (28, Cranleigh, Surrey) and Timothy Draper Smith (52, Staines) were trading as James Gutters and Roofing Ltd between August 2017 and February 2019. Over this … Continue reading
Surrey Schools scammed by subscription traps
Several Surrey schools have been scammed by subscription traps locking them into costly repeat payments after appearing ‘free’. Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards are warning residents, business and other organisations not to fall victim to online subscription traps after the schools lost out on over several hundred pounds each. Subscription traps take place when you … Continue reading
Don’t let the cold (callers) in your home this winter
Doorstep scams increase during the winter periods, with over a third of all reported incidents occurring during the months of January to March. This is due to bogus callers and rogue traders taking advantage of our need for a safe, warm and dry home during the bad weather. When rain, sleet or snow sets in … Continue reading
Trading Standards investigation leads to 18-month sentence for locksmith fraudster
A fraudster who made £11,562 after scamming vulnerable Surrey residents as an unqualified locksmith has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. Shaun Phasey (49) of Staines was trading as SP Locks and 24/7 Emergency Locksmith Services over a nine-month period. He quoted and subsequently completed work for five residents who paid via a chip … Continue reading
Scams on the rise in the wake of Coronavirus
Fraudsters have been buying fake NHS and care provider lanyards so they can attempt to enter the homes of vulnerable people, Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards has warned. Officers have advised residents to never let anyone they’re not expecting or don’t recognise into their home – check first with the caller’s employer either by ringing … Continue reading
Trading standards transforms children’s garden to celebrate landmark
Trading Standards officers have joined forces with local businesses to transform a garden at a respite care home for children with disabilities. Earlier this year, Squire’s Garden Centres became the 100th firm to join Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards Primary Authority scheme. To celebrate, the two organisations joined together to transform the bland outside space … Continue reading
Fraudster jailed after conning elderly people for unnecessary home insulation
A boss who defrauded elderly people to fund a lavish lifestyle has been jailed for three years, after a prosecution by trading standards. Adam Craig Roberts, 34, from Bournemouth pleaded guilty to fraudulently misleading often elderly people across the south of England to encourage them to buy home insulation. He was sentenced at Guildford Crown … Continue reading
Trading standards celebrates working with 100 businesses
Surrey and Buckinghamshire’s trading standards service has celebrated forging partnerships with 100 businesses to help them thrive. The service welcomed Squire’s Garden Centres as the 100th firm to join its scheme to cut red tape for businesses, supporting them to grow and provide excellent service to customers. To mark the milestone, trading standards officers teamed … Continue reading
Skip hire boss fined for pressuring customers into stumping up extra charges
A skip hire boss who pressured customers into paying extra charges for skips to be removed from outside their homes has been ordered to pay fines and court costs of more than £30,000. Brian Place, director of 1st Place Grab & Skip Hire Ltd, was sentenced by Guildford magistrates for using aggressive commercial practices after … Continue reading
Rogue trader jailed for conning retired Surrey teacher with excessive charges for shoddy work
A doorstep rogue trader has been jailed after conning a retired Surrey teacher with excessive charges for substandard work to her house and garden. Tom Watson was jailed for two years for running a fraudulent business following a prosecution brought by Buckinghamshire and Surrey Trading Standards. He was handed a further four years’ imprisonment for … Continue reading
Rogue trader admits conning retired Surrey teacher with excessive charges for shoddy work
A doorstep rogue trader has admitted fleecing a retired Surrey teacher with excessive charges for substandard work to her house and garden. Tom Watson pleaded guilty to running a fraudulent business after he was brought to court by Surrey trading standards officers. Their investigation found that the former teacher, an elderly widow from Stanwell, had … Continue reading
Surrey builder fined for forging certificate after trading standards probe
A builder has been ordered to pay more than £4,000 after forging a building regulations certificate for a customer who raised concerns over his work. Thomas Peare, 28, of Langley Vale, near Epsom, was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,180 after pleading guilty to an offence under counterfeiting and forgery laws. He … Continue reading
IN PICTURES: Trading standards impounds Halloween spider toys over safety fears
Surrey trading standards officers have impounded dozens of Halloween spider toys to stop them posing a risk to children. They barred the products from entering the country through Heathrow Airport after finding sharp exposed wires in some and choking hazards in others. In a batch of 150 “spider web” sets, spider toys had legs which … Continue reading
The top four scams reported to Surrey trading standards and how to protect yourself
During Scams Awareness Month, Surrey trading standards is highlighting the top four most common scams in the county and the ways residents can protect themselves. Scams Awareness Month is a national campaign throughout June aimed at ensuring people “don’t miss a trick” when it comes to scams. Doorstep scams The most common scam reported in … Continue reading
Sniffer dog Pippa to show off her skills at roadshows highlighting illegal tobacco trade
Sniffer dog Pippa will show off her skills in detecting illegal tobacco on a roadshow tour of Surrey to highlight the dangers of the counterfeit trade. Pippa (pictured) will be in action next week at roadshows in Camberley, Guildford, Staines and Epsom. The events are being staged by trading standards officers and health advisers to … Continue reading
