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Tarmac Driveway Scam Could Cost Victim £8,000

A West Sussex resident faces an £8,000 bill after falling for a con trick. The man was approached by a gang of tarmac-layers saying they were working for the council and had some left over - offering to lay it for free.

The resident, who isn't being identified, agreed to allow the men to roll it out, but asked them to fill some potholes. He then signed an open-ended contract agreeing to pay two pounds per square foot. The gang set to work - and demanded £8,000 when the job was completed. This has not been paid.

The case is now in the hands of Trading Standards Officers, who have issued an urgent warning to West Sussex households about the gang. They claim to be working for "Sussex County Council" and are ripping off victims for thousands of pounds.

Intelligence shows that the gang are currently operating mainly along the Brighton to Chichester corridor, although the recent incident occurred in Mid Sussex. They cold-call victims and offer to carry out tarmacing work for reasonable rates. Once the work is started, the rates increase by up to 10 times, and consumers have been intimidated when they refuse to pay.

"The special Trading Standards "Scambusters" team are working very closely with the police and our local Trading Standards to try and trace this gang," said Lionel Barnard, County Council Cabinet Member for Public Protection. "They need as much information as possible about these so-called traders. Consumers should never deal with cold-calling driveway companies under any circumstances. If anyone offers to carry out such work at your home, you can be sure they are not from West Sussex County Council or its contractors May Gurney Ltd or Amey plc. If this gang turns up on your doorstep then please contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06."

Scambusters is a DTI funded Trading Standards initiative currently operating in the South East, Central England and the North East. The team tackle cross border Trading Standards issues and focus on deceptive selling.
10-08-07