FORMER election rivals have joined forces to tackle mobile phone firms who con consumers.

At last year's General Election the Conservative's David Gauke contested the seat of South West Herts, alongside Labour's Kerron Cross.

Mr Gauke won, but now the pair have put their political differences aside and are working together to stop people being "scammed" by rogue traders.

Last month, Three Rivers District Councillor Cross was contacted by a company called Dragon Mobiles, insinuating that they were calling from his current service provider.

They asked for personal details and offered a cheap rate new contract.

Councillor Cross said: "I questioned whether it was necessary to take all my personal details, but the salesperson said due to the Freedom of Information Act companies had to destroy records after a year as they were not allowed to be kept on file. I challenged this, to which I was rudely asked Do you understand the Freedom of Information Act then? Do you?' "I became increasingly suspicious when the salesperson then asked for my bank details in order to send the phone out. He said it was to cover a £1 admin charge and so the phone could be delivered."

At the end of the call, Councillor Cross was told that his number would be changed, as would his service provider.

Then when he received his first bill he saw that he had been misled about the tariff.

He said: "It would have been all too easy not to have checked the invoice and found that I was committed to an expensive 12 month contract.

"I couldn't believe a company could get away with conning people like this. I don't want anyone else to lose money and hoped that David could help."

Mr Gauke took on Councillor Cross' case and has written to Ofcom, the telecommunications watchdog, as well as the Department of Trade and Industry.