Police and the Lismore City Council have issued a warning after reports that unlicensed travelling tradesmen are back in the area.
The unlicensed tradesmen are known to target elderly people by offering to complete work such as roofing or asphalt laying.
A council spokesperson said the ‘asphalt bandits’ worked for cash and provided dodgy workmanship, with the sub-standard repairs not holding up over time.
‘There are reports that these traveling tradesmen are back in the northern rivers at the moment,’ the spokesperson said.
‘If you are approached by someone like this it is essential that you confirm they are licensed and have some form of accreditation,’ the spokesperson said.
‘If they don’t have any licences please be aware you are taking a big risk hiring them.’
Police said anyone approached by a tradesman can check online whether they have a valid contractor licence by visiting the Service NSW website.
If you can’t find it, you should contact NSW Fair Trading to confirm that the person holds a Contractor’s Licence. By law, all contractors must show their licence number on all advertising, stationery and signage.
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