Paint scam

AN ELDERLY Cranbourne woman has been left with a large clean-up bill after being deceived by “dodgy” painters recently.
The woman, who did not want to be named, now wants to warn others so they don’t also fall victim to the scam.
The woman said two young men, aged in their early twenties with English accents, knocked on her door this month and offered to do some painting work for her.
“They said they had been doing some work in the area and noticed that my roof was in need of painting,” she said.
“I initially said no, but then he kept convincing me and I said OK.
“I don’t entertain anyone at the door usually, but I don’t know what I was thinking this time.
“I had already been getting quotes to get the painting done at my house, so this was easy for me.”
The woman said the men charged her $2200 to paint her roof and back pergola, but did a bad job.
“First they thinned the paint down lots with water,” she said.
“There’s paint splattered all over the brick paving at the back.
“Instead of using a brush on the pergola posts, they spray-painted them so it’s sprayed everywhere else.
“They have missed bits and there’s just paint everywhere.
“They told me they would come back and fix it up, but I’ve never heard from them again.”
The woman said she would now have to pay for another painter to come back and fix it up – causing her to be even more out of pocket.
She said she wanted to share her story to warn others of the scam.
“Don’t do any business at the door,” she said.
“They had no phone number, no signwriting on their car.
“I won’t get my money back, but I might save someone else from falling for it.”