Beware so called friendly scrap collectors in Stafford

magda_xxx

magda_xxx

Well-Known Forumite
Jheych said:
Folks just thought would give a "heads up on this"

We are all I'm sure too aware of the 3 or 4 vans that are collecting scrap round our streets . In the main have found them to be friendly , curteous and polite ( despite the fact that they come around FAr too often AND those ridiculous and VERY irritating horns)!

Anyway ..

Just thought would advise a bit of caution . There is one chap , drives a van with cage pallet sides , a white van I think.

Always had my suspicions on this guy as he drives very slowly and peers into the houses and alleyways . I though we were suppoosed to call them over if we had something for them?

"Get to the point" !

ok I will !

Yesterday said scrap man was found around the back of my house ! .I was at work but someone just happened to have called in to see us.

This scrap guy could not have just "casually"been there picking up scrap as we had none AND would have to go down the ginnel AND open the back gate to get where he was at the time .He "appeared" to be ready to toddle off with my bike!

No defence or excuses as I see it !..

He said in his defence when challenged

but.. "I'm the scap man" as if he was somehow allowed to just wander around peoples property

Robbin' bloody so and so more like!

so clearly as scrap metal value is so high he has now taken it upon himself to relieve us of anything he can get hold of whether offered or not!

I am wondering if these guys are actually allowed to trawl our streets? do they have to be licensed? how do we check?

Also has anyone else seen this character acting supiciously ?Does anyone on the forum know him? If so please tell him to kindly stay off private property

I think a word with the local constabulary may be in order ?

be careful folks
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Hi Jheych you should call police! They should never enter your property at any time !!!
 
United57

United57

Well-Known Forumite
Why not help and try to stop people stealing metals by making scrap dealers pay by cheque

https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/406

"Due to a significant rise in value, metal has become a much sought after commodity. This increased demand has resulted in a sharp rise in metal theft nationally. Metal fencing, gates, manhole covers and other metallic items are stolen on a regular basis. Property is raided for lead, copper and cabling. War memorials and statues have been taken. Overhead power lines are stolen at serious risk to personal safety with huge costs for replacement and major inconvenience to the public. Historically the scrap metal trade has been a cash in hand industry. This creates difficulties as there is no audit trail, making identification of individuals who may be trading stolen metal or who may be committing tax or benefits fraud, a difficult proposition. An amendment to the Scrap Metal Merchants Act 1964 to prohibit cash transactions would make payment by cheque or directly into a bank account mandatory and would be a significant component in reducing metal theft."
 
United57

United57

Well-Known Forumite
tek-monkey said:
Too easy, no way the Gov would do it!
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130,000 petition for the Hillsborough documents to be made public. If you get over 100,000 thay have to look at it.
 
joshua

joshua

Well-Known Forumite
Why can't the dealers do this by themselves or are they all way too happy to take any metals from anyone who shows up, no questions asked ?
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
joshua said:
Why can't the dealers do this by themselves or are they all way too happy to take any metals from anyone who shows up, no questions asked ?
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Copper on the radio the other day said that one of his local dealers had done just that, voluntarily - and then seen his business drop by 75% - so he (reluctantly) went back to cash payments....

If they don't all do it, then it won't happen - and they won't all do it until they're forced to..
 
Nicedave

Nicedave

Well-Known Forumite
Gramaisc said:
joshua said:
Why can't the dealers do this by themselves or are they all way too happy to take any metals from anyone who shows up, no questions asked ?
Click to expand...
Copper on the radio the other day said that one of his local dealers had done just that, voluntarily - and then seen his business drop by 75% - so he (reluctantly) went back to cash payments....

..
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Do they pay more for talking metal ?
 
Gramaisc

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Obeowen said:
Gramaisc said:
joshua said:
Why can't the dealers do this by themselves or are they all way too happy to take any metals from anyone who shows up, no questions asked ?
Click to expand...
Copper on the radio the other day said that one of his local dealers had done just that, voluntarily - and then seen his business drop by 75% - so he (reluctantly) went back to cash payments....

..
Click to expand...
Do they pay more for talking metal ?
Click to expand...
Damn! Should have seen that and ironed it out...
 
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