A Fife couple running a building company have been fined for breaching trade regulations when dealing with customers – including two elderly women.
In the dock at Dunfermline Sheriff Court for offences committed in relation to Whitehill Builders were Allison and James Thomson, of Ferryview, Whitehill Sawmill, near Aberdour.
On one occasion Mrs Thomson, 54, falsely told a Rosyth couple she had paid over £800 to the council to prepare the way for building work.
When the couple discovered from the local authority that no fees had been paid, they challenged her but she refused to return the money.
Mr Thomson, 58, admitted that on December 1 2013 at Oak Grove, Dunfermline, whilst acting as a trader he failed to give a customer, Betty Bisset, a notice of her right to cancel a contract.
The customer was aged 77 at the time.
Mrs Thomson admitted that on June 24 2013 at Main Street, Townhill, being a trader, she omitted to provide the consumer Gregor Smith a quotation for building work.
She also admitted that on March 15 2014 at Queensferry Road, Rosyth, while acting as a trader, she failed to give a customer, Ellen Methven, a notice of her right to cancel a contract.
The customer was 85-years-old at the time and was looking to have work done on landscaping and a new driveway.
The woman was initially given a £1,200 quotation over the phone with no site visit having taken place.
When the customer questioned the figure it was reduced to £1,000 and she was told work would start the next day.
Thomson further admitted that on June 13 2014 at Cunningham Road, Rosyth, being a trader, she engaged in a commercial practice which was misleading by pretending to Ryan and Paula Cotter that she had paid £803 to Fife Council for a building warrant and associated costs, the truth being she had not made the application nor paid any fees.
The offences committed were contrary to Consumer Protection for Unfair Trading Regulations.
James Thomson was fined £300 and Allison Thomson fined a total of £1,500 by Sheriff Chris Shead.
