UNDERCOVER consumer watchdogs ended up with a case of the wash day blues when they targeted rogue repairers in Warrington.

In a secret operation, trading standards officers discovered nearly half of washing machine repairs carried out were flawed.

Spy cameras were placed inside an ordinary family home - with officers posing as husband and wife - while engineers were called in to repair a number of straightforward faults.

Security was of paramount importance, with officers on standby in the property if their cover was blown, to avoid potential confrontations.

But when the machines were opened up and independently assessed after the tradesmen had left, investigators often found parts had been replaced unnecessarily.

Today rogue repairers are being warned such scams must cease as they aim to tackle a rising tide of complaints about people who fix domestic appliances.

Technical services chairman Clr John Joyce said: "This project clearly highlights there are some competent yet unscrupulous repairmen at work in the town." Promising protection for customers, he added: "This type of sharp practice will not be tolerated."

Added Pete Astley, principal trading standards officer: "The problem is that most people will not be aware that they have been ripped off because their machine is working fine."

But the department is stressing the operation does not reflect the skills of all engineers and that they will be seeking to ensure genuine traders are protected.

The latest inquiry took three months to plan and was one of the first of its kind in the north-west. Investigations are continuing and some repairers may be prosecuted.

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