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Scottish Sun
7 days ago
- Scottish Sun
UK hotspots for rogue traders revealed – how bad is your area?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE worst hotspots for rogue tradespeople have been revealed, as thousands of households have been left with shoddy work done. A total of 9,703 reports of suspected rogue trader work were recorded last year, consumer charity Electrical Safety First found. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 New Freedom of Information data reveals the worst hotspots for rogue traders 4 Experts are warning that poor electrical work could be dangerous for households Credit: Electrical Safety First 4 Having poor electrical work leaves you at risk of fire, burns and electrocution Credit: Electrical Safety First 4 Some 655 reports of suspected rogue traders were made relating to electrical work alone Credit: Electrical Safety First The highest number of reports was for roofing work, with more than 2,000 people filing complaints. Reports were also linked to: General building works (1,018) Plumbing work (881) Electrical work (655) Carpentry work (633) Other types of jobs reported included work on driveways, bathrooms and windows. The data, gathered through a Freedom of Information request, also revealed Greater London as the worst hotspot in the country. It had 2,462 reports of suspected rogue tradespeople last year. Yorkshire and Humber followed closely behind with 2,341 reports. East Anglia and the East Midlands were next with 934 and 793 reports respectively. The West Midlands had the lowest number of reports at just 108. The areas with the most suspected rogue trader reports Greater London - 2,462 Yorkshire and Humber - 2,431 East Anglia - 934 East Midlands - 793 North West - 722 Northern Ireland - 695 Scotland - 438 North East - 364 Wales - 287 South West - 271 South East - 198 West Midlands - 108 Households are being warned rogue traders can leave them at serious risk. Richard Harvey, electrical installation safety expert for Electrical Safety First, said: "With so many reports of suspected rogue trade activity, there's a real chance of dangerous work being carried out in homes that leaves victims picking up the pieces, or worse, at serious risk of harm. "People are still feeling the squeeze from the cost-of-living crisis, and rogue traders will exploit this, perhaps offering to do the work in an unrealistic time frame or at a cheaper price." HMRC Spying on Social Media, M&S Giving Away Free Cakes, & Unemployment at Four-Year-High – Money News Today He warned electrical work can be the most dangerous as shoddy electrics leave you at risk of fire, burns and electrocution. Plus, having poor work done can leave you thousands of pounds out of pocket as it can cause further issues and you'll need to get it fixed. Last year, a rogue trader from Cornwall was sentenced after he left customers £90,000 out of pocket. In one case, he removed load-bearing walls without adequate support for the roof and left electrics in a dangerous state. Another rogue trader from Swindon was sentenced after it was found he carried out dangerous electrical work which was not compliant with building regulations. He'd also issued houseowners with an electrical installation certificate for the electrical work claiming it had been signed off by an electrician who had not visited the property. Red flags to watch out for You can avoid getting caught out by a rogue trader by looking out for these signs… They're available immediately Builders and tradespeople are in demand, so be wary of anyone who can start work straight away. Of course, there might be legitimate reason for this - perhaps they had another job fall through - but it's worth asking some questions. Read the reviews on websites like Checkatrade or on Google Reviews and make sure the person is vetted and qualified to carry out the work. They're VERY cheap If one tradesperson comes in with a quote that's significantly cheaper than all the others, you should be wary. This might be because the work is done in a rush and corners will be cut. Remember, cheap work can't always be rectified and you may pay out more in the long-term to repair the damage. When getting any work done, get a few quotes to give you an idea of the sort of price you can expect to pay. Online cost guides can also help to provide an overview of the amount that various types of work might typically cost. They're asking you to pay upfront A tradesperson should never ask you to pay the full amount upfront. You'll usually pay in instalments, keeping the final chunk of money until the work has been completed and you have confirmed that you are satisfied. You should get a detailed written quote that includes T&Cs and states exactly what is and isn't covered, as well as a receipt for every payment you make. Pay using a secure method rather than handing over cash. They've knocked on the front door While it's not unusual to get a leaflet through the door advertising work, you should never feel pressured into committing to any works by someone who has turned up uninvited on your doorstep. Experts say a reputable tradesperson would never canvas work by knocking on doors - they'll be so in demand they don't need to. Instead, a better way to find a decent tradesperson is through recommendations from friends, family and colleagues. You could also join local forums and social media groups to get recommendations, and be sure to read reviews.
USA Today
30-05-2025
- USA Today
South Carolina tourists find remains that may be linked to 'forgotten' burial site
South Carolina tourists find remains that may be linked to 'forgotten' burial site Show Caption Hide Caption Danish archaeologists uncover 50 Viking-era skeletons The excavation of a large Viking-era burial site in Denmark has unearthed 50 well-preserved skeletons, along with grave gifts. Tourists exploring an island off the South Carolina coast accidentally uncovered human skeletal remains that authorities believe may be linked to a forgotten, centuries-old burial site. The tourists were in Jeremy Cay — a private, beachfront community located on Edisto Island about 45 miles southwest of Charleston — on May 23 when they discovered what they initially believed to be fossils, according to the Colleton County Sheriff's Office. But after realizing the remains appeared to be human, the tourists immediately contacted the sheriff's office and the Edisto Beach Police Department, the sheriff's office said. Authorities then responded to the scene and secured the area. The Colleton County Coroner's Office also assisted in the investigation and recovery of the remains, which were later transported to the Medical University of South Carolina for forensic analysis and identification, according to the sheriff's office. "The location of the discovery is historically significant, once home to the 19th-century settlement known as Edingsville Beach," the sheriff's office said in a news release. "Early indications suggest the remains may originate from a long forgotten burial site." The sheriff's office noted that the identity of the remains and the circumstances surrounding their death are currently unknown. The investigation remains ongoing, and the sheriff's office said it's working with the county coroner's office and other partner agencies to learn more about the remains and their origin. Colleton County Coroner Richard Harvey told Newsweek on May 25 that the remains consisted of a skull and separated bones. Harvey noted that the discovery was "rare" and that the remains could be from the Revolutionary War or Civil War, according to Newsweek. A family went missing in Alaska in 2024. A boat and human remains were just found. What is Edingsville Beach? The Jeremy Cay community is near the site of Edingsville Beach, a former vacation destination that was popular among wealthy Southern families in the early 19th century, according to an article on the town of Edisto Island's website. "It was initially established for wealthy Charleston families as a seasonal refuge to escape the humidity and heat in the Lowcountry," the article states. "For a few decades, Edingsville Beach was the place for the elite to be seen." In 1825, the community was made up of 60 tabby and brick houses with verandas facing the ocean, according to the article. Edingsville Beach also had several churches, service buildings, boathouses, fishing shacks, a billiard saloon, and a schoolhouse. The settlement began to disappear over the decades due to coastal erosion and the effects of the Civil War, the article adds. "Visitors started to notice the shifting sands and ever-lapping tides took a toll on the beach," according to the article. "In addition, the Atlantic surf had managed to scoop up about 20 of the homes before the Civil War began." Patricia Wu-Murad case: A Connecticut woman went missing 2 years ago on hike in Japan. Her remains have been found The community was uninhabited during the Civil War and mostly abandoned after the war ended in 1865, the article states. Edisto Island was hit by a hurricane in 1885, which leveled most of the remaining structures in the settlement. By 1893, another hurricane destroyed the last of the structures in Edingsville Beach, according to the article. Now, only a narrow strip of beach serves as a reminder of the historic community. Bones and remains have previously been found on the island, the article states. In 2015, a tourist from Pennsylvania visiting the north end of Edisto Island found several bones. Shortly after, a former Edisto Beach State Park ranger discovered a skull with some teeth attached. Paleontologists later determined that both sets of remains dated back to 1865 and 1870, according to the article. One of the sets was identified as a cow skeleton.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tourists Thought They Found Fossils on Island, but Investigators Say They Might Be Centuries-Old Human Remains
The Colleton County Sheriff's Office said tourists visiting Edisto Island in South Carolina found what they initially thought were fossils — only to later realize they were human remains The location of the remains is historically noteworthy, authorities said, as it was once a 19th-century settlement known as Edingsville Beach Authorities are working to determine the identity of the remains and the cause of death Authorities said that tourists visiting a South Carolina island came across centuries-old human skeletal remains. The Colleton County Sheriff's Office said in a press release that it responded to a report about the remains found on Edisto Island on Friday, May 23. The sheriff's office said deputies were sent to the Jeremy Cay community near Legare Road, a beachfront property, after the tourists discovered what they initially thought were fossils while exploring the area. 'Upon closer examination, they realized the remains appeared to be human and promptly contacted the Colleton County Sheriff's Office and the Edisto Police Department,' the department said. Authorities closed off the area and conducted a preliminary investigation, according to the sheriff's office. The location of the remains is historically noteworthy, authorities noted, as it was once a 19th-century settlement known as Edingsville Beach. 'Early indications suggest the remains may originate from a long forgotten burial site,' said the sheriff's office. The remains were recovered with the assistance of the Colleton County Coroner's Office and taken to the Medical University of South Carolina for forensic examination and analysis. The identity of the remains and the circumstances behind their death are currently unknown, stated the sheriff's office, adding the investigation is active. In an interview with Newsweek on Sunday, May 25, Colleton County Coroner Richard Harvey said the remains consist of a skull and separated bones. Harvey further added that they could be from the Revolutionary War or Civil War, and that his office plans to identify the bones and determine how old they are. According to Edisto Island's website, Edingsville Beach was once a popular vacation spot, particularly for the elite, during the first half of the 19th century. In 1825, it was made up of 60 tabby and brick houses with verandas facing the ocean. The community also had several churches, boathouses, a schoolhouse and a billiard saloon. Over time, Edingsville Beach faded due to continued beach erosion and the impact of the Civil War. In 1885, a hurricane hit the island, and all that was left were a few houses. Towards the end of the century, the island was all but abandoned. The website also noted that in 2015, a tourist from Pennsylvania visiting the north end of Edisto Island spotted a bone sticking out of the mud and collected several of them before they got washed away by the high tide. Shortly after, a former Edisto Beach State Park ranger found several teeth attached to a skull while on vacation. Paleontologists later determined that both sets of remains — one of them a cow skeleton — dated back to 1865 and 1870. PEOPLE contacted the Colleton County Coroner's Office and the Colleton County Sheriff's Office for additional information on Tuesday, May 27. Read the original article on People
