A landscaper who carried out poor work on a garage and driveway, inflating the price and pressuring the customer has been busted and ordered to pay more than £12,000.

In 2019, Dean Potter, 34 of Sandhurst Lane in Gloucester, was trading as ‘4 Counties Landscaping’ and he was contracted to complete work for a resident in Charlbury, West Oxfordshire.

Potter carried out work on the drive and garage and charged the customer £5,600. However, an expert valued this job at £161, £5,439 less than Potter charged.

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The trader also demanded £6,500 to replace the garage roof when the cost should have been £2,390, but luckily trading standards intervened before this money was handed over.

Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team brought the prosecution, which was heard at Oxford Magistrates Court.

Prior to the start of the trial, Mr Potter pleaded guilty of committing offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

These offences included failing to provide any written quotes or invoices including cancelling rights, contravening the requirements of professional diligence.

Potter also pleaded guilty to claiming the product would only be available on particular terms for a very limited time, namely at a reduced price if work was agreed to immediately.

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He did this in order to elicit an immediate decision and deprive the consumer of sufficient opportunity or time to make an informed decision.

He also pleaded guilty to charging the customer for work when the value was less than the amounts charged.

Potter was ordered to pay by the court a compensation fee of £6,600 to the victim, contribution of £3,600 to the costs of the prosecution, a financial penalty of £1,850 and a victim surcharge of £181.

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Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s cabinet member for community services and safety, said: “This case shows that we will pursue those who pressurise vulnerable members of the public into having work done and for charging excessively for a substandard job.

“We advise anybody who is looking for a reliable trader to always get a number of detailed quotes, check with friends and family for trusted recommendations and consider a trading standards approved trader, from our Buy With Confidence scheme." 

Oxfordshire County Council urges any Oxfordshire resident that has concerns about activity of this nature to report it to trading standards using the national consumer helpline 0808 223 1133.

Read more from this author

This story was written by Rebecca Whittaker, she joined the team in 2019 as a multimedia reporter.

Rebecca covers education and news in Abingdon and Wantage.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Rebecca.Whittaker@newquest.co.uk or calling 07824524333

Follow her on Twitter @RebecWhitt

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