Redbridge couple’s warning after losing £300 to roof con

The married couple are warning other residents about the scam. Picture: Ken Mears (Image: Archant)

Patricia Franklin, 83, of Redbridge, said some men knocked at her door and offered to clean her gutter for £20 on Good Friday, March 30.

After taking up the offer her husband, Peter, went outside to watch them.

When the men finished, they told the couple that their roof was in a bad shape and said they could sort out the problem for £300.

“They came and got some water from my house and supposedly mixed up some cement,” she said.

“They were up on the roof for 45 minutes.

“When I said I haven’t got £300 on me they escorted me to the cashpoint.”

After being paid the men swiftly went, but in their haste to go, they left behind some products.

“In the bag was stick up plasterboard and not cement,” she added.

“He had gone and rubbed it everywhere on my roof – I’m worried they have done some damage.”

Mrs Franklin said she is now being targeted by other scammers she thinks are in cahoots with them. She says a fake roofing company knocked on her door on Easter Monday, April 2.

“They showed me this beautiful card with an address and phone number on but I’m not so gullible this time.

“We looked up the address number of 101 but the road only goes up to 78.

“They are probably in league with the others.”

Mrs Franklin said she is speaking about her ordeal to save someone else from going through the same experience.

“It was my own stupid fault but I don’t want others to lose money – who has a spare £300?” she said.

Marc Gloc, of Redbridge trading standards, said since October 2016 £200,000 has been lost to cold callers and 90per cent is through roofing scams.

“What starts out as a small job can turn into a big job.

“It’s all a ploy to get feet through the door.

“Don’t use cold callers, buy through a vetted scheme like buy with confidence.”