A Kidwelly builder has been prosecuted for giving worthless guarantees to a customer.
Esmond Jones pleaded guilty at Ammanford Magistrates Court to breaking regulation eight of the Consumer Protection for Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
The court was told that a customer contacted Trading Standards about damp proofing work carried out at her home in Gwynfe, Llangadog, by 74-year-old Jones, trading as Sureseal Damp Proofing Co. Ltd. He had issued several guarantees to the customer under different names.
The company she had contracted with did not exist which meant that the guarantees were not bonded, leaving the customer with a worthless piece of paper and no comeback if anything went wrong.
Jones, of Craylands Park, Kidwelly was fined £360 and ordered to pay £500 costs.
Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for housing and public protection Cllr Hugh Evans said: “It is usually best to employ a tradesman that you know or who has been recommended by a friend or neighbour and Carmarthenshire Trading Standards also operates a Registered Traders Scheme – Builders and allied Traders as well as a newly launched Handyperson and Gardener scheme – which can be accessed via the corporate website – www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk/registeredtradersscheme – or by contacting Viv Jones on 01554 742306.”
Trading Standards would encourage any Carmarthenshire residents with concerns about a trader’s conduct to contact them through Carmarthenshire Direct on 01267 234567.
