Police warn of bitumen scam

Police are warning residents on the Sunshine Coast to be wary of persons going door to door offering bitumen services and requesting cash payments.On November 25, two males attended a home on Ilkley Road at Eudlo and claimed they had bitumen left over from nearby road works. They offered to repair the resident’s driveway for a cost of $1886. The resident agreed but later discovered the work was of poor quality.The men had either English or Irish accents and were driving a white Toyota Corolla.  They have also been seen with a small child in the vehicle.Previous reports have been made to Sunshine Coast police about possible suspect behaviour regarding bitumen maintenance work or repairs. Police are also aware of further activities by these people in the Kenilworth, Ilkley and Eudlo areas where these people target and intimidate older residents.The best way for homeowners to avoid a scam or possible shoddy handymen is:• say no – at first;• seek more information – from independent sources such as family, friends, neighbours, newspaper advertisements or past clients;• reputable businesses will be happy to provide you with full contact details so that you can follow-up on their services;• obtain a written quote;• seek an agreement with the person offering the service that all monies will be paid at the satisfactory completion of the job and not up front;• regulatory authorities who are responsible for license and regulation of various trades such as plumbing, building and electrical etc, should be contacted to ascertain if the handyman is currently licensed; and• if the offer turns out to be safe and good for you, you can always say yes later.Anyone with information about the two men working on Ilkley Road should contact the Office of Fair Trading or their local police station.Homeowners are urged to take these tips on board and say no to anyone offering door-to-door home repairs. Wait until you are able to make an informed decision and know that this is a legitimate offer.