We have been made aware of rogue traders operating in our area, please see the below guidance regarding dealing with rogue traders and how to report them.

Rogue Traders and Doorstep Crime

Each year, Trading Standards receive thousands of complaints about uninvited traders and a large majority of these relate to home maintenance work such as roofing, tarmacking and paving, garden and tree surgery, insulation, general building work, burglar alarms and other services.

Doorstep cold-calling is not illegal, however Trading Standards advice is to NEVER employ traders who call at your door.

The work or service offered can sometimes be unnecessary, overpriced, of a poor standard or not done at all. Typically they have no formal training to carry out the work offered and some may have links with distraction burglars.

Common reports include:

Avoiding Rogue Traders Advice:
 

It is important that people have the confidence to say no to doorstep traders and take the time to think about the service being offered.

Carry out checks

Rogue traders do not just cold-call at your door; they can have professional websites and place adverts in newspapers, magazines and other publications. They also operate leaflet dropping so be aware that not all leaflets are genuine.

Reporting a Rogue Trader

Only about 15% of victims report rogue trading incidents (through fear or because they feel ashamed). Although Trading Standards works closely with the police to stop rogue traders, many of the reports received from the public come too late for the traders to be found and/or to recover the money paid to them.

Trading Standards urge consumers to contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service in relation to any suspected rogue trader incidents or suspicious activities.

For live incidents where the rogue trader is still at the property, or is due to return, contact the police on 999. The police have a protocol for dealing with these incidents and welcome your contact.