VICTORIA HOUSE MANAGEMENT (ABINGDON) LIMITED (02037697)

An Oxfordshire builder has received a prison sentence at hearing at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday 29 May, following an investigation by Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team and the National Trading Standards tri regional investigation team. 

Mr David McCallium, formerly of Newbury, now Bicester, pleaded guilty to three charges of fraudulent trading, two charges of running a company while bankrupt and two charges of running a company in a name other than that on a bankruptcy order. 

He received a two years and six months’ custodial sentence and was disqualified from being a director of a company of eight years. An order of confiscation was also made, although no recoverable amounts have been identified.

Trading standards had received complaints from 12 members of the public about McCallium, who traded under Aspect Home Improvements, Home Aspect, DM Restorations and Glazing and Unique Property Developments.  

The investigation, which was supported by the National Trading Standards regional investigation team, found that considerable sums of money were paid for work ranging from replacement windows to house extensions, which were either partially completed to a poor standard or left uncompleted with the trader uncontactable. 

False statements were also made in relation to liaising with building control or other agencies, being members of trade associations and using false names. This caused the customers considerable distress and left them forced to pay out extra to get the partially completed work completed, often costing thousands of pounds.  

The customers were unaware that McCallium has been declared bankrupt and should not have been running a business.  

Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing and Safety: “The vast majority of Oxfordshire’s builders complete their work on time and to their customers’ satisfaction. When this is not the case and traders take money for rushed bodge jobs, then our trading standards team are here to protect residents from the actions of rogue traders. 

“These customers have been left in a stressful situation and considerably out of pocket due to the actions of Mr McCallium and in some cases has taken years to put the situation right.” 

 Lord Michael Bichard, Chair, National Trading Standards, said: “Mr McCallium’s actions have caused real harm to consumers – causing considerable distress as people were duped out of thousands of pounds – and undermined trust in honest and legitimate builders and businesses.  

“Cracking down on rogue traders like McCallium helps protect local communities and helps safeguard a level playing field for honest, law-abiding businesses. I hope this sentence sends a strong signal that these crimes will not be tolerated – and I urge local neighbourhoods to look out for each other and report any suspicious cases like this.” 

Jody Kerman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Head of Trading Standards, said: “We advise anybody who is looking for a reliable trader to always get a number of detailed quotes, check with friends and family for trusted recommendations and consider a trading standards’ approved trader, from our Buy With Confidence scheme. 

“We would also advise that customers resist calls for payment ahead of when sums are due to be paid under the agreement they have with a trader and consider what work has been achieved before paying that sum.” 

Any Oxfordshire resident that has concerns about activity of this nature should report it to trading standards via the Citizens Advice national consumer helpline 0808 223 1133.