Latest news with #ScotPulse
Daily Record
28-04-2025
- Daily Record
Couple from Motherwell scammed out of £4,000 by rogue traders
A couple from Motherwell were scammed out of £4,000 by rogue traders who falsely claimed their roof had extensive damage, Trading Standards Scotland (TSS) has revealed. The pair, who wish to remain anonymous, were visited by roofers offering a free inspection. Initially, they were told only minor repairs were needed, costing £200. However, the workers later claimed the roof required £8,000 worth of work due to major damage Feeling pressured, the couple paid a £4,000 deposit. After the work was completed, they sought a second opinion. A council-approved roofer assessed the job and concluded the repairs had been poorly done and should have cost no more than £1,000. The incident was highlighted by TSS as it published the findings of a poll showing that almost half of Scots have been targeted by aggressive or misleading sales tactics. The ScotPulse survey of 1,063 people revealed that 46 per cent of people had encountered banned practices used by rogue traders. A third (33 per cent) said they were misled into completing a sale, but only one in five of those reported the incident to the authorities. It comes as TSS launches a nationwide 'Know Your Rights' campaign to help Scots understand their protections and report scams and dishonest sellers. Other shocking examples include an elderly woman from Fife who lost £3,000 after a sales team posing as NHS workers spent more than two hours in her home, pressuring into buying a new mattress. Experts have also uncovered cases where traders stayed in homes until midnight, while one locksmith even locked a customer out of their own property. The examples highlight the importance of refusing to give in to pressure tactics and bogus claims. Fiona Richardson, chief officer of Trading Standards Scotland, said: 'It is shocking that so many people in Scotland are falling victim to misleading and aggressive sales tactics. 'This poll shows the scale of the problem, with almost half of people experiencing this kind of appalling behaviour. 'Traders who offer fake discounts or falsely claim extra work is needed are not just being dishonest – they are breaking the law. 'The impact goes beyond financial loss. It causes stress and anxiety, particularly for older or more vulnerable people. 'We urge consumers not to deal with cold callers. Instead, look for trusted local businesses through approved trader schemes backed by Trading Standards. 'Always research a company before agreeing to any work. Online adverts can be misleading and reviews can be faked. Take your time. A pushy pitch is often a red flag. 'It is vital that consumers feel confident standing up to these tactics and know there is help available.' *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here . And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here .
STV News
28-04-2025
- Business
- STV News
Almost half of Scots fall victim to banned sales tactics, poll suggests
Almost half of Scots have been targeted by aggressive or misleading sales tactics, a new poll suggests. The survey, conducted for Trading Standards Scotland (TSS), revealed 46% of participants had encountered banned practices used by rogue traders. Around a third (33%) said they were misled into completing a sale but only one in five of those reported the incident to the authorities. The ScotPulse survey of 1,063 people comes as TSS launches a nationwide Know Your Rights campaign to help Scots understand their protections and report scams and dishonest sellers. Examples include an elderly woman from Fife who lost £3,000 after a sales team posing as NHS workers spent more than two hours in her home, pressuring her into buying a new mattress. Experts also uncovered cases where traders stayed in homes until midnight, with one locksmith even locking a customer out of their own property. The survey also found that just under a third (31%) of Scots said their physical health, mental wellbeing, or both had been affected by misleading or aggressive sales tactics. Only 28% were aware that money could potentially be reclaimed from financial institutions after being misled. TSS is urging people not to engage with cold callers and instead to seek reputable local traders. Chief officer Fiona Richardson said: 'It is shocking that so many people in Scotland are falling victim to misleading and aggressive sales tactics. 'This poll shows the scale of the problem, with almost half of people experiencing this kind of appalling behaviour. 'Traders who offer fake discounts or falsely claim extra work is needed are not just being dishonest – they are breaking the law. 'The impact goes beyond financial loss. It causes stress and anxiety, particularly for older or more vulnerable people. 'We urge consumers not to deal with cold callers. Instead, look for trusted local businesses through approved trader schemes backed by Trading Standards. 'Always research a company before agreeing to any work. Online adverts can be misleading and reviews can be faked. Take your time. A pushy pitch is often a red flag. 'It is vital that consumers feel confident standing up to these tactics and know there is help available.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
28-04-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Almost half of Scots fall victim to banned sales tactics, poll
Almost half of Scots have been targeted by aggressive or misleading sales tactics, a new poll suggests. The survey, conducted for Trading Standards Scotland (TSS), revealed 46% of participants had encountered banned practices used by rogue traders. Around a third (33%) said they were misled into completing a sale but only one in five of those reported the incident to the authorities. The ScotPulse survey of 1,063 people comes as TSS launches a nationwide Know Your Rights campaign to help Scots understand their protections and report scams and dishonest sellers. Examples include an elderly woman from Fife who lost £3,000 after a sales team posing as NHS workers spent more than two hours in her home, pressuring her into buying a new mattress. READ MORE: Glasgow man who pretended to be Greggs manager to con council jailed for four years Couple loses £30,000 as fraudster dupes law firm Experts also uncovered cases where traders stayed in homes until midnight, with one locksmith even locking a customer out of their own property. The survey also found that just under a third (31%) of Scots said their physical health, mental wellbeing, or both had been affected by misleading or aggressive sales tactics. Only 28% were aware that money could potentially be reclaimed from financial institutions after being misled. TSS is urging people not to engage with cold callers and instead to seek reputable local traders. Chief officer Fiona Richardson said: 'It is shocking that so many people in Scotland are falling victim to misleading and aggressive sales tactics. 'This poll shows the scale of the problem, with almost half of people experiencing this kind of appalling behaviour. 'Traders who offer fake discounts or falsely claim extra work is needed are not just being dishonest – they are breaking the law. 'The impact goes beyond financial loss. It causes stress and anxiety, particularly for older or more vulnerable people. 'We urge consumers not to deal with cold callers. Instead, look for trusted local businesses through approved trader schemes backed by Trading Standards. 'Always research a company before agreeing to any work. Online adverts can be misleading and reviews can be faked. Take your time. A pushy pitch is often a red flag. 'It is vital that consumers feel confident standing up to these tactics and know there is help available.'
