A fraud investigation is underway in England as more than 30 people handed over almost £500,000 in deposits for building projects that never moved forward.
Here's what to know
Residents in Dorset, Hampshire, Sussex, and Surrey told the BBC they paid substantial deposits to South Coast Construction Ltd. (SCC) for work that was never completed.
In Southampton, Sian and Simon Romsey said they paid nearly £16,000 in March toward a double-story extension after being persuaded by the company's design-and-build service, contract wording, and online endorsements. Simon Romsey said, "Alarm bells started blowing up in our heads," when an architect said she had not been paid and would not release the drawings shortly before the work was due to start.
Jo Amas, from Burgess Hill in West Sussex, said she paid nearly £12,000 in March for a loft conversion for her stepmother, Fran, who had dementia. "I checked out everything... and looked at their reviews. I thought I'd done due diligence in checking them out that they were legit."
The BBC reported the business misrepresented its insurance and approval status, while one trader-site membership lasted only six weeks in 2024.
Sian Romsey said, "The fact it can happen in an instant is really frightening."
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More background
Before transferring large sums, several customers told the BBC they were swayed by accreditation logos, reviews, and contracts that appeared professional.
Court judgments cited by the BBC show the company had five unpaid county court judgments totaling more than £37,000.
Simon Romsey said he recovered his money in August after two months of repeated calls to his bank. The BBC reported that 29 customers received bank refunds, while eight were told their claims were civil matters and are now taking their cases to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
After Fran moved into a care home, Amas said the lost money made an already difficult family situation even worse. "Homes are very expensive, we needed that money back to pay for the home and it was heartbreaking," she said.
What's being done?
Trade bodies and accreditation groups cut ties with the company. The BBC said one scheme described the company's use of its membership certificate as proof of insurance as a "serious breach" of the scheme's terms, and the business was expelled in May. Its memberships with several trader-vetting and industry groups ended earlier this year.
Sussex Police said it is looking into several alleged fraud reports connected to SCC. A spokesperson said, "Anyone impacted or who has any information is asked to report to Sussex Police online, by calling 101 or using textphone 18001."
Separately, the BBC reported that the U.K. government said in August it would set up a trusted-trader database and a payment system with extra protections. The Federation of Master Builders has also called for a licensing scheme that could prevent rogue operators from continuing to trade legally.
Sole director Brandon Harris-Lee has denied deliberately scamming customers and said he was "deeply sorry" to those affected.
Amas was quoted, "These people have managed to rip us all off and just got so much money out of us. It's just unbelievable."
Where can I learn more?
With scams on the rise, here are more stories on misleading sales and service practices to help you know what to look out for.
• Homeowners said HVAC contractors used trust-me sales tactics to push costly replacement systems.
• In California, homeowners said nonrenewal notices relied on bizarre inspection claims and confusion.
• A homeowner said a supplier delivered the wrong soil for a raised garden bed.
• A resident accused a waste collection company of a shady pickup move after watching trash collection.
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