Today (Friday 3rd November) at Hull Crown Court Mohammed Usman (age 36) of Highfield Lane, Keighley was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years and ordered to pay £39,752 compensation to his customers and £17,778.59 prosecution costs.
A former company director of Eco Warm Home Improvements Limited, based at Office 3, Burnett Street, Bradford, Usman admitted negligence causing his company to commit offences under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations between May 2015 and March 2016.
The prosecution followed an investigation by the National Trading Standards Yorkshire & Humber Regional Investigations Team triggered by numerous complaints from former customers of the company, many of whom were elderly.
19 customers who had reported the company to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline gave statements to investigators. They described a variety of unfair trading practices including:
- Customers were cold called by telephone offering a free energy survey when the purpose of the call was to obtain sales
- Customers were told that their windows/glass was not efficient and they would make great savings by changing this when there was no evidence of this statement being true
- Customers were told that there were price reductions because of government subsidies when there was no such subsidy
- Customers were told that the price had been reduced because of a scrappage allowance or scheme when there was no such thing
- Cancellation rights were not complied with and customers did not always receive a full (or any) refund
- Work was sometimes of a poor standard and faults was not rectified.
Usman was arrested in May 2016 and gave a ‘No comment’ interview to investigators.
Councillor Ann Reid, Executive Member with responsibility for Trading Standards at City of York Council, said:
“This prosecution once again reaffirms our position that we will not tolerate any type of fraud, especially when targeting elderly and vulnerable people. I hope that the sentence passed today will act as a deterrent to people thinking about committing an offence and help to reassure victims.”
Lord Toby Harris, Chair, National Trading Standards, said:
“Mr Usman led consumers to believe his company would save them money but instead he knowingly abused their trust. National Trading Standards is committed to protecting consumers and I hope today’s sentence sends the message that we will not hesitate to bring to justice those who mislead and defraud people.
“Anyone who is concerned about themselves, or others, being the victims of similar criminal activity should contact the Citizens Advice helpline on 03454 04 05 06.”
Notes to Editors
For more information about this case contact Rachel Welch, Senior Investigator (NTS) at City of York Council on 01904 551542.
About National Trading Standards
National Trading Standards delivers national and regional consumer protection enforcement. Its Board is made up of senior and experienced heads of local government trading standards from around England and Wales with an independent Chair. Its purpose is to protect consumers and safeguard legitimate businesses by tackling serious national and regional consumer protection issues and organised criminality and by providing a “safety net” to limit unsafe consumer goods entering the UK and protecting food supplies by ensuring the animal feed chain is safe.