Consumer Alerts – June 2026
3rd of June, 2026
Bogus outdoor cleaning services
A report of 2 males cold calling in the Ribble Valley offering outdoor cleaning services has been received. In one case the householder was offered the service for £150. The males carried out the work before the householder had given consent, asking for double the original amount of money when they had finished.
Trading Standards advice is to always say no to cold callers. The Safetrader scheme can help you find a trader in your area, contact 0303 333 1111 or go to www.safetrader.org.uk.
Beware appliance cover telesales
Beware receiving a telephone call offering cover on specific home appliances such as your washing machine or TV. A Lancashire resident agreed after one such call but has since been inundated with persistent telesales calls from other businesses all offering warranties. Whilst these businesses had different names and offered slightly different services, they all seem to have the same address.
Often such businesses will require an upfront fee and get you to set up a direct debit for monthly or quarterly payments. Never feel pushed into purchasing such warranties.
Beware recruitment scams
The scammer will gain your details from legitimate internet job sites where the job seeker has posted their CV or personal details for potential employers to see. They will pretend to be an interested employer or agent and will ask you to fill in a questionnaire and may interview you over the phone. Once you have received a job offer the fraudsters will contact you about arrangements, if abroad, about arranging travel, accommodation and visas. For legitimacy you may then be referred to another alleged agency to assist with the arrangements, this agency will require an initial 'administration fee', then will introduce further fees. Unfortunately, there will be no job, all the money will go to the scammers and contact with you will cease.
Always research prospective employers before sharing personal information. Look out for generic email addresses or spelling mistakes in emails.
Beware parking fine scam
Beware receiving a fake text or email allegedly issuing you with a parking fine or saying you owe money for an unpaid parking ticket. The message can use urgent and threatening language such as stating if not paid on time, you might be banned from driving, have to pay more or be taken to court. Never click on links in such messages or reply providing personal details. Genuine parking fines will include the vehicle registration, the time of the offence and the location it happened. It will come in writing and be left on your windscreen, handed to you in person or arrive in the post.