A home improvements company was prosecuted and fined over 'shoddy, unnecessary and overpriced' work carried out on a house in Stockport, a council has revealed.
Platinum Home Improvements Ltd, based in Alvaston, Derby, was summonsed to attend court alongside its director, Patrick Doherty, 21, and employee James Doherty, 49.
Council bosses revealed they were sentenced at Tameside magistrates court last month for a total of 16 trading standards offences in Stockport. They were ordered to repay £12,747 to the man concerned, together with court costs and fines totalling £19,086.
Stockport Trading Standards launched an investigation after the victim complained about building work that the company had carried out at his property in Heaton Mersey.
In a statement after the case, the council said the work was 'shoddy, unnecessary and overpriced'. Town hall bosses also said the man was pressured into agreeing to work that he didn't need. The offences took place over a period of two to three weeks in January, 2021, the council said.
Stockport council said in a statement: "James Doherty also repeatedly pointed out more work that the victim allegedly 'needed' and the victim was pressured into agreeing to work that he didn't want and was not given any cancellation rights.
"The victim's legitimate complaints, including damage to his gate, were dismissed. Apart from the guttering, an expert witness found the quality of work wholly unacceptable. The victim feels that he has been taken advantage of and reports having been afraid, startled, bewildered and anxiety ridden."
The company and James Doherty pleaded guilty to six offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs) for contravention of professional diligence and misleading omissions.
Patrick Doherty pleaded guilty to four offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 for contravention of professional diligence and misleading omissions.
The charges read that they 'being a trader, knowingly or recklessly engaged in a commercial practice which contravened the requirements of professional diligence and which materially distorted or was likely to materially distort the economic behaviour of the average consumer with regard to a product'.
Councillor Helen Foster-Grime, Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, said: "I am delighted that our officer's work has ensured these criminals have been held to account for taking advantage of a vulnerable resident. The message is very clear; we will not tolerate this in Stockport and will take robust action wherever possible."
No further details - or photographs - have been revealed by the council.
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