Northern rivers residents are being urged to be on the lookout for dodgy conmen offering cheap bitumen and other trade-related work.
There have been reports of travelling ‘tradesmen’ approaching residents, often elderly, offering work using materials left over from a highway job.
They also may offer to do such things as line marking, roof restoration, painting and other general household trades such as concreting.
Fair Trading commissioner Rod Stowe said last week that the men ‘often target the frail and the elderly and can become quite intimidating and threatening when challenged.’
The Echo received a report recently of an offer for cheap bitumen work to a homeowner in Myocum.
Mr Stowe says, ‘People offering or carrying out home building work valued at more than $5,000 (labour and materials) on residential properties in NSW are required to be licensed.’
‘Consumers should ask to sight a licence, which is similar to a credit card with details of the trader’s name and licence category,’ Mr Stowe said. Licences can also be checked online at www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au or call 13 32 20.
