Gardai in an East Cork town are investigating bogus workers who carry out shoddy repairs and threaten homeowners who refuse to pay for the work. A number of families in the town have come across the so-called workers who have promised to carry out services ranging from farm work to driveway repairs. They offer the services at reduced prices and come equipped with business cards and contact numbers.

The work turns out to be rushed and shoddy and when the workers are challenged they turn aggressive and threatening in their behaviour.

Threats

One such family spoke with the Cork Independent but for fear of their safety wish to remain anonymous. "They came in a van and offered to do some work for us. They seemed very friendly and quoted a great price. We had previously got a quote for the same work and this was over twice the amount these guys were charging us. They promised to have the work done in one day."

The morning the work was due to commence, this homeowner woke up and felt something was not quite right. "I just had a very strange feeling in the morning," she said. "Three people arrived to do the work but I was just not sure. I decided that I would check them out on the internet. There was no sign of their business on-line, they weren't listed in the yellow pages and they weren't registered as a company." As the work began, the lack of proper tools and machinery by the workers was other worrying sign.

"They had promised to re tarmac our driveway. They sprayed some black stuff all over the drive, saying it was tarmac; it was done in ten minutes. Then they started putting down stones in the driveway but I again raised my concerns," she said.

To allay their fears the workers brought one member of the family to another house to show some previous work.

"I wasn't happy with what they showed but they said we had agreed it. We said it wasn't and told them leave. That was when they got aggressive. "One man in particular was particularly threatening, they said they would kill my husband. We said we would call the police and then they left," she said.

It wasn't long before the threats escalated: "Soon after, the phone calls started. They were shouting down the phone saying they knew where we lived and they were going to get the money from us." In the meantime the Gardaí had arrived, and the family learned that they were not the first victims.

Contact Gardai

A Garda spokesman told the Cork Independent the force is aware of a rise in these incidents in the East Cork area. "We have seen this type of behaviour lately. What seems to happen is they concentrate on one area for a few weeks and then move on. If someone does call to your door and you have any doubts whatsoever, contact your local Garda station and we will ascertain whether they are bogus or not. "We are aware of these people and are actively pursuing them. If anyone is in any doubt with suspicious callers then don't answer the door and call the Gardaí," he said.

However it is too late for this family. "I'm very scared, we moved here for the peace and quiet but now I'm afraid to answer the door. I'm afraid they will come back. "I don't want anyone else to go through what I have gone through. You cannot trust anyone now."

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