Officers say customers are often left high and dry when they cannot track down companies who have carried out poor quality work.

Roman Leszczyszyn, head of business regulation for trading standards, said: "We have named traders who use bogus accommodation addresses or whose only contact detail is via a phone answering service.

"This service receives frequent complaints from consumers who have entered into contracts with traders who have either cold-called or called after receiving fliers which have have been pushed through the door."

One of the traders named is Quality Paving, which gives the address of 4 Euston Street, Leicester. The company is not at this address.

Another is a house painting company called Whartons which lists its address at Unit 114, 40 Halford Street, Leicester LE1 1TQ. Officers say there is no unit 114 at this address.

Mr Leszczyszyn said: "If the work by these traders is of poor quality, consumers cannot locate the trader to get them to return to remedy the work and any guarantees they have been given are worthless."

Where the address is bogus the trader will have committed a criminal offence under the Business Names Act 1985. The maximum fine is £1,000.

Martin Traynor, managing director of Leicester Chamber of Commerce, said: "I welcome this website. Very often the victims are not just the customers but other businesses."

The website to view traders names & addresses is: http://www.leicester.gov.uk/business/trading-standards/bogus-traders

For consumer advice contact Consumer Direct on 0845 4040506, their advise is:

Do not do business at the door or answer fliers. Choose traders that you can be certain are where they say they are. If you can, visit the address to ensure that it exists and that the trader is at that address before entering into a contract with them.

Don't be fooled by people who call at your door saying that they are just working up the street or that they have done work for your neighbour! These is a common ruse to gain your trust.

Remember you would not give money to a stranger that you met in the street but the people who call at your door are strangers and you know nothing about them other than what they choose to tell you.

To shop rogue traders online CLICK HERE to visit RipOfTipOff a web site designed to let you tell them about traders who you think are 'RIPPING OFF ' the UK public

Source Leicester Mercury
Visit Trading Standards Website