Door knocker warning for residents

A warning has been issued by the Consumer Protection Karratha office, for Pilbara residents to be on the look out for door-to-door workmen offering to coat or repair their roof or driveway.

The office's senior regional officer Gwynneth Haywood said homeowners should steer clear of people knocking unexpectedly on their door and claiming to be an experienced tradesman, and report the incident.

"Anyone who comes into contact with itinerant traders offering on-the-spot jobs is urged to report the incident to the national travelling conmen hotline," she said.

"The workmen are not abiding by the door-to-door trading laws and they do not give a business name or address, just a mobile phone number."

Ms Haywood said often the tradesmen were offering overpriced and sub-standard work.

"They are difficult to track down for a refund or to make a warranty claim if you're not satisfied and are breaking consumer law by not observing a 10-day cooling off period for unsolicited sales," she said.

Launched in October 2011, the national stop travelling conmen campaign was set up as a response to scams, with anyone wishing to report an incident able to call the national travelling conmen hotline on 1300 133 408 with information they have about a travelling tradesperson.