I live in Prenton and have just had a bloke turn up in a white van telling me that my chimney is about to collapse. He asked me for £300 in advance to pay for materials and would commence the job right away.

Needless to say he didn't get it. He is wearing a black top with the name of his company printed on it in yellow and he has an accent which is not local (possibly Lancashire or Cheshire). If anyone is approched by this man please get the number of his van and report it to the police.

how do you know he is cowboy? what are you going to do now if your chimney collapses?

Well it seems mighty suspicious when someone asks for £300 cash upfront without actually getting up a ladder and taking a proper look.

Would you hand over the cash ? What does the bugger do with it ? He does a runner of course.

As for the chimney, it's been pointed and the danger of imminent collapse was not reported. I've inspected it with binoculars and it looks solid. This is a classic example of FUD - Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt; a well known marketing technique.

I should add that the bloke is white, stocky build, short dark hair and I'd say in his 30s. He has a mate with him in the van.

Classic scam, will be praying on the elderly and vulnerable no doubt.

Call the police!

i'll keep a sharp eye out.

i work in a builders mrchant and hear about lots of this type of thing.watch out guys as the old favourite tarmac boys are in the area again.

fookin gypo's

Gypo's wearing stetsons

yerr man!

Just play detective and report any suspicious knobs to the plod, innit

Just play detective and report any suspicious knobs to the plod, innit

how bad is that? should have got him to go up and show you it wobble then remove the ladders. does chimney lean in over the roof? cos thats normal

why don't we get the Wiki Posse gathered and mosey on down the trail to Prenton and meet at the OK Coral...!!!

i live in prenton. sounds like the same bloke that knocked at mine yesterday whilst i was at work. he told my girlfriend that the gutters were shabby and that he had some left over from another job and wanted money there and then to replace them.

Deffo sounds like a con-artist then.
People of prenton- prepare pens and paper to have at hand ready to jot down reg plates!

I find it difficult to believe that no one has got this scumbags reg.no. yet. Mindyou, the van is probably stolen/untaxed/uninsured/no MOT and the driver/con.man is of no fixed abode. ie.lives in a shed on wheels somewhere, surrounded by unwanted bits of stolen property, litter, excrement, mangy dogs, dead gas bottles etc. etc.

Oh sorry, maybe I'm not allowed to say such things in this wonderful PC world !!

Another one for medical experiments !!!

I've now reported the incident to the police.

Bought anything good Pinz?

I guess I walked right into that one !!

Just received a pdf from the police via Prenton Tenants and Residents Association.

There is a warning out of a man claiming to represent Wirral Partnership Homes and is running a scam similar to the one he tried on me.

Those in Prenton Dell Rd, Johnson Rd, Boswell and Garrick Rd are known to have been targeted.

Call the police on 777 2452 if you think you have been approached.

At least the plod are doin sumfink

Hmm i live up the top by the saddle club, i'll be waiting for this gyppo with a bag of onions and spray tin of raid!

You should be "Dirty sanchez" my friend!!
Arrebba, Arrebba..ondollez!!!
We come to get you, you dirty gringo!!!...(fade into tune of "The good, The Bad and The Ugly!!)