PEMBROKESHIRE businesses are being urged to be cautious following reports of a tool sharpening service, which has hidden grossly inflated prices, being offered in the area, with some already facing bills in the thousands.

Pembrokeshire Trading Standards and police have received reports of the approaches by traders from outside the area, with reports of aggressive sales tactics.

In neighbouring Carmarthenshire, businesses have already been caught out.

Police have stated: “A growing number of local businesses are being approached by males offering a tool sharpening service.

“The males are taking tools away and asking a member of staff to sign a receipt, unaware of what they are actually signing, and returning the following day with the sharpened tools, presenting them with the invoice for thousands of pounds.

“In some cases, the invoice that has been signed has been legally binding, forcing businesses to pay thousands of pounds for this service.

“If payment is refused then harassing visits and phone calls follow.”

Anyone that has been approached is asked to report it to the police on 101, or the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06/03454 04 05 05 (Welsh speaker).