Rogue Traders
Buying goods or services from a cold caller can be risky as you may not be able to contact them if something goes wrong. Doorstep scammers remain a serious problem across the whole area. Many are affiliated with serious organised crime groups and usually overcharge for work that is either unnecessary and/or substandard. They tend to target vulnerable and elderly consumers.
How do Doorstep Scammers Work?
Doorstep scammers are adept at gaining the trust of unsuspecting consumers. Some of the more common techniques they use are:
- Creating a website and glossy leaflets and using a temporary address in the local area to make their business seem credible and legitimate to unsuspecting consumers
- Using a name similar to a legitimate company that trades in the same area in order to gain the trust of consumers
- Changing their business name to avoid detection, but using the same sales techniques and being run by the same people
The most common types of work that doorstep scammers carry out are roofing, driveways, and gardening. They mainly operate during the summer months and often target rural areas. They may tell consumers that:
- Urgent repair work is needed on part of their property
- They can offer the consumer a special deal or reduction which is only available on that day
- They have recently completed similar work at houses in the local area
They go to great lengths to appear legitimate and often target vulnerable people who may not be able to make informed decisions. They offer to start work immediately, without providing proper paperwork or allowing the consumer time to think about what they are agreeing to or seek a second opinion.
What You Can Do
To prevent scammers knocking on your door, you can request a No Cold Calling sticker from your local trading standards office. If an uninvited trader ignores the sticker, they may be committing an offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
Never feel pressured into making a decision on the spot. Any legitimate trader will be happy to return at a later date – you may want to ask a friend, neighbour, or relative to be with you when they call back to give a second opinion.
Never agree to a trader starting work straight away and never hand over any money without seeing proper paperwork and making sure that you understand the terms and conditions, including cancellation rights.
Before agreeing to have any work done by an uninvited trader, follow these 5 points
- Close the door on uninvited callers. Don’t feel obliged to answer the door to a cold caller – it is your home and you should not let anyone in unless you feel comfortable.
- Take time to think before making a decision. Rogue traders may try to pressure you by saying that they have special deals which are only available today. Don’t let an uninvited trader start work straight away.
- Research. Get at least 3 quotes from trusted companies before having any work done in or around your property. Rogue traders go to great lengths to appear legitimate – check at least 3 review sites to make sure you are getting genuine feedback.
- Verify that the person is genuine and take note of the company’s details. ID cards can be faked – close the door and, rather than phoning the number on the trader’s ID card, look up the company’s number on their official website or in an official phone directory to check their identity. Legitimate traders will be happy to wait while you perform these checks.
- Report any suspicious behaviour to the Police on 101, or 999 in an emergency.
