Trader pleads guilty
A trader has pleaded guilty after misleading a couple into paying for a new bathroom that was never fitted.
Michael Edwards of Wychbury Road, Pedmore pleaded guilty to two counts of misleading action and misleading omission under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 at Dudley Magistrates’ Court on January 26.
Edwards had taken payment of £2,930 from the couple in August 2021 to fit a new bathroom in their home.
After failing to do the job, the couple approached Dudley Council’s trading standards who pursued the case on their behalf.
In court, Edwards was ordered to pay a total of £1,746 in fines and costs including a fine of £270, which was reduced for an early guilty plea and compensation of £350.
Edwards also agreed to refund the victims’ £2,930. He paid it in full on the morning of his hearing.
Edwards had claimed that the money taken from the victims had been stolen from him by an ex-partner who had since passed away.
Councillor Ian Bevan, cabinet member for public health, said:
This prosecution shows that Dudley Trading Standards will not tolerate traders who evade their contractual responsibilities.
Edwards failed to co-operate with Dudley Trading Standards and left the victims without a new bathroom and their £2,930 for more than two years until this prosecution was brought to court.
Dudley Council runs the Fix-A-Home scheme which includes a list of reputable tradespeople to carry out maintenance in homes. Information is available online.