A councillor from Preston has urged residents to get help and advice quickly if they think they have been targeted by a rogue trader.
Cllr Pav Akhtar, a Labour councillor at Preston City Council for Plungington ward, spent more than £14,000 on roof and property repairs but later found that the majority of work was not completed, and what was done was described as defective and unsafe.
All of the properties are in the Plungington area of Preston and, as a result of the defective work, one of the homes currently has a hole in the bedroom ceiling after water entered the property and caused a collapse.
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The work was carried out from 30 June to 16 July 2025 and totalled £14,100 across four invoices.
Cllr Akthar asked a building and roofing specialist to carry out an independent assessment of the work in September 2025 after he became suspicious that work may not have been carried out as expected.
That report, seen by Blog Preston, said: “My professional assessment is that the overwhelming majority of works invoiced by… were not carried out in any form.
“In the limited instances where physical evidence of work exists, it was executed to an unprofessional, unsafe and sub-regulatory standard that falls materially below even the most basic industry expectations.”
The report states that, separate to the non-delivery and quality of work, the pricing was ‘grossly inflated and wholly inconsistent with fair market rates’.
It continues: “The behaviour evidenced is consistent with deliberate misrepresentations, and the findings merit scrutiny by the appropriate civil and criminal authorities.”
Cllr Akhtar, who came across the trader on Bark.com, said he wanted to share what had happened to him in the hope that others would have the confidence to act if placed in the same situation.
He said: “This experience was financially and emotionally draining, but I refused to be intimidated into staying silent. Lancashire Trading Standards provided decisive guidance, and NatWest acted to recover the majority of the funds. My message to residents is simple: if you believe you’ve been misled, speak up early.
“Rogue traders rely on fear, pressure and embarrassment – the moment you challenge that, you take back control.”
He has been issued a £6,600 refund from NatWest, and intends to pursue the rest of the amount through the small claims court.
He added: “Nobody should feel ashamed for being targeted. What matters is acting quickly, documenting everything and holding those responsible to account.”
A spokesperson for Lancashire Trading Standards said: “This case underlines the importance of seeking early advice. Rogue traders often create urgency and confusion to pressure victims.
“By contacting us promptly, Cllr Akhtar had more options and stronger protections. We encourage anyone concerned about work being carried out at their home to contact Trading Standards or Action Fraud immediately.”
Residents who are concerned about work on their property can report them to Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer Service helpline on 0808 223 1133 or visit Consumer advice – Lancashire County Council, Report Fraud (0300 123 2040), or their bank if payments may have been made under false pretences.
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