Cornwall Council’s Trading Standards team is warning residents of park home sites to avoid dealing with a gang cold-calling and offering to carry out repairs and maintenance.

The warning follows reports of a gang persuading residents on a site near St Austell to have unnecessary repairs undertaken yesterday.

The gang was said to be smartly dressed and driving two grey vans with the company name on the side.

Gary Webster, senior trading standards officer said: “This isn’t the first time a mobile gang has visited Cornwall persuading park home residents to have insulation or repair work undertaken.

"Often the work is unnecessary or the claimed work is completed to a very poor standard. In some cases the park home is deliberately damaged to suggest that it is in a poor condition.

"In all cases the homeowner is denied their 14-day cooling-off period and persuaded to have the work done immediately.

“And, of course, the gang is here today and gone tomorrow, so any guarantee they promise will be worthless and there will be no chance of getting a refund when problems are found.”

The advice from Cornwall Council Trading Standards is clear: NEVER deal with anyone who knocks at the door without an appointment.

If anyone has already had work undertaken or if they see the suspected gang they can report it via the Police on 101 quoting log number 0682 of 8 July 2019 or via email to report-it@cornwall.gov.uk