Sinkhole residents warned of potential scams
PA MediaTrading Standards have warned residents of a Surrey village to remain vigilant over potential scams in the wake of two sinkholes opening in the area.
Lee Ormandy, team manager at Surrey Trading Standards, warned residents in Godstone that scammers could try to strike in the wake of incidents such as the disruption caused by two craters which appeared in February.
The warning comes after residents in the village received a leaflet from an unnamed company containing a mobile number and WhatsApp QR code offering safety surveys on their homes costing £1,500 each.
Residents have been urged to ignore leaflets but a trader behind them told BBC Surrey the lack of information was an "honest mistake".
Mr Ormandy said: "We want to give people the confidence to say no to any type of cold callers and it sounds like the message is getting through.
"The most important thing is to trust your instincts.
"We advise any trader who would like to do something like this to contact trading standards so that we can advise them on how to do it properly and effectively."
About 30 properties were evacuated as a result of the February sinkholes - one of which measured 65ft (20m) in length.
Some families were even told it might be up to a year before they could return.
However, in March, Surrey County Council's infrastructure team announced those impacted could move back, despite the cause of the road collapse remaining unknown.
Alban Brindle, chairman of the Godstone Village Association, urged residents to ignore the leaflets and added that Surrey County Council was already carrying out surveys and "awaiting additional equipment that will give them a lot more information".
Alan White, who has lived in Godstone for 25 years, said his whole street had received the pamphlets in their mail boxes.
"I got one the other day asking for £1,490 to do a survey with a full report - no company name, just a mobile number and a WhatsApp QR code," he said.
When approached by BBC Radio Surrey the trader, who wished to remain anonymous, said in hindsight he had made an "honest mistake" and should have put the company's name on the leaflet.
He added no-one had been booked in to have a survey carried out and he would contact the police to explain the situation.
A spokesperson for Tandridge District Council warned everyone to avoid "fraudsters" who "play on your fears and pressure you into getting work done straight away".
"Leaflet drops are often followed up knocks on your door - you do not have to engage with doorstep callers," they said.
"Do your research on any trader you may employ and get at least three quotes."
In a post on social media, Trading Standards added: "Don't panic and think twice before paying as Surrey Highways are carrying out ground penetrating surveys (and others) anyway."
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