Two roofers who charged a customer more than double the amount originally agreed and left the job unfinished have been ordered to pay £26,400 compensation, following an investigation by Hillingdon Council's Trading Standards team.
Billy Dunbar, 26, of Old Mill Place, Wraysbury, and John Smith, 23, of Pleasant Place, Hersham, admitted misleading commercial practices in breach of the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 after starting work at a property in Hatherleigh Road, Ruislip.
The pair, who worked as business partners trading as Pinner Roofing, were sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday 23 June.
Alongside the compensation, Dunbar received a four and a half month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months and was handed 150 hours of unpaid work. He was also given 15 days of rehabilitation activity, and ordered to pay a contribution to costs of £1,200 and a victim surcharge of £154.
Smith was given an 18-month community order, 150 hours of unpaid work, 25 days rehabilitation activity and was ordered to pay the same contribution towards costs, alongside a victim surcharge of £114.
The council’s trading standards service was alerted to the case after receiving a phone call on 16 February 2023 from NatWest Bank relating to substantial amounts of money being transferred from the victim’s account for roofing services.
It transpired that after initially agreeing on a price of £25,000 to replace the roof, and receiving an invoice to that effect, the victim was told by Dunbar that the work required was more extensive. In addition to the deposit of £8,750, a further £37,250 would be payable – totalling £46,000. Later, Dunbar sent messages to the victim asking for further payments of £1,100 and £7,850.
At this point the victim refused to pay any more, but by then he had already paid a total of £52,800. Not having been paid what they wanted, Dunbar and Smith walked off the job, leaving the roof unfinished.
Money was paid by the victim into Dunbar’s bank account, and he then transferred approximately half to Smith. The defendants also failed to give written notification to the victim of his right of withdrawal or cancellation, as required under consumer protection legislation.
Prior to a hearing in January this year, the defendants voluntarily paid £13,200 each to compensate the victim meaning, prior to sentencing, half of the loss had already been repaid.
Cllr Adam Bennett, Hillingdon Council’s Cabinet Member for Community, Environment and Enforcement, said: “This must have been a distressing experience for the victim in this case. Our priority is to protect our residents from rogue traders and from being unfairly treated, and this case demonstrates that we will not hesitate to take robust action against unscrupulous businesses who seek to exploit our residents.”
To report an issue, contact the Citizens Advice consumer service in the first instance by calling 0808 223 1133 or visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/information/contact-the-consumer-service