Don’t be steamrolled into unwanted driveway work

Following reports received this week, Orkney Islands Council’s trading standards department and Orkney police are urging householders to think twice before accepting offers of work from doorstep callers.

The advice relates particularly to cold callers offering to put in tarmac paths and driveways.

Trading Standards manager Gary Foubister said: “Our advice is to be wary of people calling to your house or business offering to do work of this kind at short notice, and don’t be steamrolled into accepting an offer.

“A reputable trader will gladly give a consumer time to think and make their own enquiries, given the amount of money typically involved.”

A police spokesman added: “In light of information that there may be workers in Orkney offering tarring and surfacing services, police would like to remind residents to be vigilant before agreeing to have any work done or entering into any an agreement with contractors that they do not know and have not checked out thoroughly beforehand.”