A local trader who over-charged and carried out shoddy work on a local resident’s property has been convicted under consumer protection legislation. He was ordered to pay compensation of £3,000 to his victim.
In September 2015, Kristian Phillip Lee of Heol Dal Y Cappa, Llansamlet, Swansea was commissioned by the consumer, whose son is confined mainly to a wheelchair, to construct a wall, steps and ramp in the garden; to level the patio; lay slabs and raise a fence.
No cancellation rights or contract were given.
Despite being paid a total of £4000 in the September of that year when the work was commissioned, progress was very slow. Lee often failed to turn up at the property and as a consequence three of the four cubic metres of ready mixed concrete ordered by Lee had to be disposed of. The consumer also had to pay for skips to remove the rubbish that had been generated.
Lee had been paid £9,550 excluding VAT by the time he said that he had completed the work in early 2016 and asked for a final payment of £700. Despite this, the work was not finished, and the work that had been completed was of poor quality or was not as specified in the contract.
Neath Port Talbot Council’s Trading Standards team were called, who then commissioned a quantity surveyor to assess the work.
The surveyor advised that the works should have cost between £4,500 and £5,000 plus VAT and should have taken 10 to 14 days.
The surveyor also commented that there was little value in the work done, that the quality of work that had been carried out was poor and that the consumer’s property had been damaged in the process.
Mr. Lee attended court on the 7th June 2017 where he pleaded guilty to four charges under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
The Court imposed no fine, but ordered him to pay compensation of £3,000 and total costs of £600.
Cllr Des Davies, Neath Port Talbot Council Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Protection, said:
“I want to remind residents to be vigilant of these crimes and scams to avoid becoming a victim of a rogue trader. I would urge residents to do their research on a business before entering into an agreement and to be cautious when paying money upfront.”
“For work carried out at a resident’s home that is more than £42 in value, traders are required by law to provide cancellation rights. This gives 14 days for contracts to be cancelled.”
“Under the regulations, traders are required to exercise professional diligence in the work they carry out. Particularly bad workmanship or work not as described will be investigated by the Trading Standards team.”
Homeowners and businesses who believe they have been a victim of this type of scam can call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 040 506.
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Erlyn masnachwr twyllodrus am godi gormod o dâl am waith anfoddhaol
Mae masnachwr lleol a gododd ormod o dâl ac a wnaeth waith gwael ar eiddo preswylydd lleol wedi'i euogfarnu o dan ddeddfwriaeth diogelu defnyddwyr. Gorchymynnwyd ef i dalu iawndal gwerth £3,000 i'r person a oedd wedi dioddef.
Ym mis Medi 2015, cafodd Kristian Phillip Lee o Heol Dal y Cappa, Llansamlet, Abertawe ei gomisiynu gan y defnyddiwr, y mae ei fab yn cael ei gyfyngu i gadair olwyn yn bennaf, er mwyn adeiladu wal, grisiau a ramp yn yr ardd, gwneud y patio'n wastad, gosod slabiau a chodi ffens.
Ni roddwyd unrhyw hawliau canslo na chontract.
Er iddo gael ei dalu cyfanswm gwerth £4,000 ym mis Medi'r flwyddyn honoo pan gafodd y gwaith ei gomisiynu, roedd cynnydd yn araf iawn. Yn aml, methodd Lee fynd i'r eiddo ac oherwydd hynny roedd rhaid cael gwared ar bedwar metr ciwbig o goncrit parod roedd Lee wedi'i archebu. Roedd rhaid i'r defnyddiwr hefyd dalu am sgipiau er mwyn cael gwared ar y sbwriel a oedd wedi ymgasglu.
Roedd Lee wedi derbyn £9,550 o dâl, heb gynnwys TAW, erbyn iddo ddweud ei fod wedi cwblhau'r gwaith yn gynnar yn 2016 a gofyn am daliad terfynol gwerth £700. Er gwaethaf hyn, nid oedd y gwaith wedi dod i ben ac roedd y gwaith a oedd wedi'i gwblhau o safon isel neu nid oedd yn dilyn yr hyn a nodir yn y contract.
Galwyd ar dîm Safonau Masnach Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot, a aeth ati i gomisiynu syrfëwr meintiau i asesu'r gwaith.
Dywedodd y syrfëwr y dylai'r gwaith fod wedi costio rhwng £4,500 a £5,000, yn ogystal â TAW, a dylai fod wedi para rhwng 10 a 14 diwrnod.
Nododd y syrfëwr hefyd nad oedd y gwaith a wnaed o werth mawr, bod ansawdd y gwaith a wnaed yn wael a bod eiddo'r defnyddiwr wedi'i ddifrodi yn y broses.
Daeth Mr Lee i'r llys ar 7 Mehefin 2017 lle plediodd yn euog i bedwar cyhuddiad o dan Reoliadau Diogelu Defnyddwyr rhag Masnachu Annheg 2008.
Er nad oedd unrhyw ddirwy, gorchmynnodd y llys iddo dalu iawndal gwerth £3,000 a chyfanswm costau gwerth £600.
Meddai'r Cynghorydd Des Davies, Aelod Cabinet Cyngor Castell-nedd Port Talbot dros Ddiogelwch Cymunedol a Diogelu'r Cyhoedd,
"Rwyf am atgoffa preswylwyr i fod yn wyliadwrus o'r troseddau a'r gweithredoedd twyllodrus hyn er mwyn osgoi dioddef gweithred dwyllodrus. Byddwn yn annog preswylwyr i wneud eu hymchwil am fusnes cyn ymrwymo i gytundeb a bod yn ofalus wrth dalu arian ymlaen llaw."
“Ar gyfer gwaith gwerth mwy na £42 a wneir mewn cartref preswylydd, mae'n ofynnol yn ôl y gyfraith i fasnachwyr ddarparu hawliau canslo. Mae hyn yn rhoi 14 diwrnod er mwyn canslo contractau.”
"O dan y rheoliadau, mae'n ofynnol i fasnachwyr arfer diwydrwydd proffesiynol yn y gwaith y maent yn ei wneud. Bydd y tîm Safonau Masnach yn ymchwilio i grefftwaith gwael neu waith nad yw fel y'i disgrifiwyd."
Gall perchnogion cartrefi a busnesau sy'n credu eu bod wedi dioddef y math hwn o weithred dwyllodrus ffonio llinell gymorth defnyddwyr Cyngor ar Bopeth ar 03454 040 506.
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