A suspected rogue door-to-door seller has received a dispersal order in court banning him from operating anywhere in North Yorkshire.
Police received complaints about a rise in aggressive and suspicious door-to-door traders calling at homes in the Ripon area uninvited.
During village patrols, two PCSOs found the man from Teesside, who has not been named, operating in Grewelthorpe.
According to a North Yorkshire Police statement, “a number of other things” concerned officers, “including his reason for being in the area”.
The man been issued with a dispersal notice covering all of North Yorkshire. He was also reported for summons regarding the certificate and is due to appear in court at a later date.
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A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said:
“Many legitimate organisations use doorstep sellers.
“But some criminals also use this tactic to catch victims off guard, get personal information or gain entry to people’s homes.
“Knowing how to respond could prevent you from becoming a victim, so we’re sharing the following information to help people make informed choices if someone knocks on their door.”
Police advice on dealing with doorstep callers
North Yorkshire Police issues the following guidelines:
- When answering the door, use a peephole or door chain if you have one. Never invite a stranger who calls unannounced into your home.
- If a caller is legitimate, they will be happy for your to check their identity. Ask for ID and call their company. To verify a police officer’s identity, you can call 101.
- Take your time to make decisions about buying – ask for contact details so you can get back to them when you’ve had a think. Research the price elsewhere.
- Never give out personal information and don’t feel bad about saying no and closing the door.
- If you have concerns about doorstep callers where you live or have been visited by someone you think may be bogus, please tell us using the ‘report it’ link on the North Yorkshire Police website or by calling the force on 101.
- If someone calls at your home, becomes aggressive and you fear for your safety, call 999 immediately.
Harrogate builder James Moss has been ordered to repay a customer after a court heard a £30,000 garage conversion was so poor it had to be partly demolished.
Karen Macgillivray-Fallis, from Burton Leonard, told a virtual hearing at Harrogate Justice Centre yesterday that in 2018 she paid Mr Moss to create a living space for her mother-in-law.
Unhappy with the quality of work, she asked Mr Moss to either reimburse the money or continue working. He then ended contact with her.
She said:
“We heard nothing from you. My elderly mother-in-law was very poorly at the time. The build took five months not four or five weeks like you had said. We just wanted the thing finished. Despite various attempts to communicate, you never responded.”
District Judge Helen Wood ordered Mr Moss to pay Ms Macgillivray-Fallis £9,586 plus costs. The small claims court has a £10,000 upper claims limit.
The judge accepted this would mean that Ms Macgillivray-Fallis “is going to be out of pocket”.
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Chartered quantity surveyor Peter Slater told Judge Wood that Mr Moss’ work on the extension did not comply with building regulations. Mr Moss disputed this.
The half-finished extension.
Mr Slater said there were problems with the plumbing, plastering, insulation and electrics and recommended that the extension was demolished.
He added.
“Works were in such a bad state that you would have to demolish the extension and rebuild it.”
Defending himself, Mr Moss said he was only an employee of Yorkshire Outdoor Design, the company contracted to do the work.
The sole director of the company, which has now been dissolved, was Mr Moss’ wife.
Judge Wood struck out this defence and said Mr Moss “had provided no evidence” that he wasn’t the frontman of the company.
The case was originally due to be held in December 2020 but was adjourned after Mr Moss told the court he was self-isolating.
Harrogate builder James Moss in courtA judge has adjourned a civil claim against Harrogate builder James Moss, after he told the court he was self-isolating.
Karen Macgillvray-Fallis says she paid Mr Moss over £30,000 to convert a garage in Burton Leonard into a living space for her mother-in-law, but she was not happy with the quality of the work.
Ms Macgillvray-Fallis is claiming £9,996 through the small claims court, which is close to the maximum threshold of £10,000.
At Harrogate Justice Centre, Judge Ross attempted to proceed with the case against Mr Moss via a hybrid hearing, which would involve him defending himself via telephone.
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Ms Macgillvray-Fallis is suing James Moss, trading as Yorkshire Outdoor Design, but Mr Moss told the judge he was only an employee of the company, whose sole director was his wife, Paula Moss.
He also claimed that building control signed the work off, which Ms Macgillvray-Fallis disputed.
However, as proceedings continued Mr Moss repeatedly told the judge that the telephone line was poor and he was unable to hear what was going on in the court, which forced Judge Ross to adjourn the case until January.