Police and Sutton Council Trading Standards are reminding borough residents to be wary of traders who turn up unexpectedly on their doorstep asking to do gardening and building work.

The advice follows another leaflet drop in Sutton offering tree, lawn and other gardening services discounted for senior citizens. Similar-looking leaflets have been reported to trading standards officers all over the south of England.

In January police offered advice when they learnt that flyers were about to be distributed advertising building services, such as roofing, guttering and tarmac work.

While the vast majority of building and gardening companies will be genuine, the Police and Sutton Council Trading Standards are urging residents who want work carried out to ask for ID and written quotes as well as to check out any companies and obtain references from previous customers before agreeing to any work and parting with any money.

Most reputable companies will be happy to supply such information.

In particular, residents need to be wary of traders who turn up asking for cash upfront because they may not return to complete the work or even start it.

Police advice is not to let any unknown callers into your home and not to give them any money in advance of any work.

Cllr Nick Emmerson, Lead Councillor of Trading Standards at Sutton Council, said:

“With Spring around the corner, residents are starting to think about the outdoor work they need done on their homes and gardens. When considering employing a tradesperson we strongly advise Sutton residents look at the council’s Safer Sutton Trader Scheme List so as to avoid bogus builders and unscrupulous traders. This list has been vetted by Sutton Council Trading Standards and offers a range of local professional tradespeople.

“When considering employing a tradesperson they should neither take unsolicited leaflets through their letterboxes at face value, nor people turning up uninvited to their doorstep.

“Residents should always get several quotes before agreeing to employ a tradesperson and remember that they should expect to receive a cancellation notice from the trader and have the opportunity to cancel a contract within 14 days if it is made at home.”

The Sutton Council Safer Sutton Trader Scheme seeks to help residents. To find an approved trader please visit the website at www.sutton.gov.uk/ssts or call 020 8770 5070 for details.

For advice on rogue traders, contact Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06. For their guide on ‘How to spot a cowboy builder’ visit their website guide here.

If you are suspicious of anyone calling at your door, shut the door keeping them outside, and call police on 999. It would be especially helpful if residents could check safely whether the caller has a vehicle in the street and to take the vehicle’s registration number. Police would rather come out and check that everything is OK, than to find someone who has become a victim of crime.