A Bristol company and its director misled a number of
Portishead residents over the cost of paving their
driveways.
Interlock Drives Ltd and its sole director James Coffey, of Tall
Trees Caravan Park, Almondsbury, pleaded guilty to 12 offences
under trading standards legislation at North Somerset Magistrates
Court on Wednesday, 26 August.
The prosecution was taken by North Somerset Council Trading
Standards Officers in connection with work carried out at the homes
of five Portishead residents in Falcon Close, Mead Road, Forester
Road and Bedwin Close between January and April last year.
Representatives of Interlock Drives Ltd, including James Coffey
(using the alias Tony Ford), gave quotations for block-paved
driveways, ranging in value from £3,000 to £6,850.
Customers were also told that they would not be expected to pay
for the work until three weeks after completion when, according to
Mr Coffey, the drives would have settled.
Two of the customers returned home to find that work had begun
on their properties without their permission. As soon as the work
had been completed at each of the properties, Mr Coffey demanded
payment with an additional sum in each case which he said was the
VAT that had to be paid in addition to the quoted price.
When the customers resisted this request, Mr Coffey was annoyed
and insistent. He threatened to report one of the customers to
Customs. Two of the Portishead residents who felt intimidated by Mr
Coffey ended up paying the additional amounts, representing an
overcharging of £1,150 in one case and £525 in the other.
In addition, a quotation form had the MasterCard logo which
falsely suggested this would be a possible method of payment.
The court sentenced Mr Coffey to an 18 months conditional
discharge in respect of the misleading MasterCard facility
contained within quotations. For the misleading price indications,
he was fined a total of £3,500 under the Consumer Protection Act
1987 and ordered to pay a total of £1,675 in compensation to two of
the customers. He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of
£7,124.
Cllr Peter Bryant, North Somerset Council's executive member
responsible for Trading Standards, said: “This prosecution sends
out a strong message to any unscrupulous traders wishing to do
business on the doorstep of North Somerset residents.
"I am pleased that the court saw fit to punish the director
personally and recover the prosecution costs for North Somerset. I
am also heartened that three of the customers refused to pay the
additional money demanded and saw fit to contact the authorities
despite the persistence of the trader.
"I would strongly urge residents not to deal with doorstep
traders but instead to obtain several quotes from local companies
recommended by friends or relatives. Also, they should consider
using companies that are members of trade associations or
organisations such as 'Trustmark'.
"Remember, the price you are quoted is the price you should
pay."