The office of Consumer and Business Services is warning regional South Australians to be on the lookout for itinerant tradies or ‘bitumen bandits’.

They have received eight complaints this year so far from consumers who have been approached by people offering to do unsolicited bitumen at homes and businesses.

"These people will go door-to-door – often claiming to have leftover bitumen from other works – and offer to lay the bitumen for a cheap price,” said Commissioner for Consumer Affairs Dini Soulio.

"They’re not licenced and will often demand payment well in excess of what they had originally quoted. 

"Also, more often than not, the work is substandard, and will need to be redone."

He said there may be two or three separate groups of tradies preying on consumers in regional areas and the outer suburbs.

"At least two consumers have paid a total of more than $20,000 to these unscrupulous operators, which demonstrates just how easy it is to be taken in by these people,”

“Consumers need to remember that if someone knocks at your door offering to do bitumen work, do not accept it. 

"Never engage this kind of work on the spur of the moment – do your research.

“Check they’re licensed, get quotes from other businesses, talk to friends and family about tradies they’ve used for similar work."

Mr Soulio encouraged any consumers with concerns to contact Consumer and Business Affairs on 131 882.