Rogue traders and doorstep crime - Print version

Bogus callers and rogue traders are a menace to everybody, but especially to older people. The problems they cause are well known to Trading Standards and the Police.

What is doorstep crime?

There are many forms of doorstep crime such as:

• distraction burglary
• bogus callers
• bogus officials
• high pressure selling
• rogue traders.

We work closely with partner agencies and share any information we receive to help fight this crime. We are involved in a number of projects and new ways of tackling this crime.

Doorstep crime can affect anyone, but often older and vulnerable adults are more at risk from becoming victims of bogus cold calling and rogue doorstep sellers. 

Spot the signs of financial abuse

Doorstep crime is financial abuse and ruins lives. Criminals prey on the elderly and vulnerable by gaining their trust and convincing them that urgent and usually unnecessary work needs to be carried out. Large amounts of money are then defrauded from the victim.

Financial abuse is a serious crime. We need your help to report financial abuse before the victim loses large sums of money.

Watch the video to see how victims are targeted and then read about how to spot the signs below.

With thanks to Kent County Council Trading Standards in partnership with Slough TS, Public Protection Partnership, Oxfordshire TS, Medway TS, Kent Fire and Rescue Service, Greater Manchester Police, and the Kent PCC who have produced this video to help highlight issues relating to financial abuse and doorstep crime.

What is financial abuse?

To understand more about what financial abuse is, here are some recent examples:

• An elderly person was convinced to hand over his entire pension for poor roofing work. The criminals then impersonated Trading Standards officers and stole another £10,000 by pretending the money was for a court fee.
• An adult couple with learning difficulties and mental health concerns were convinced to pay £22,000 for a poorly laid artificial lawn and roofing work which was never completed.
• A deaf person was left fearful to leave their home after criminals conned them into paying £3,000 for unnecessary roofing work.

How to spot the signs

Be alert to signs that someone you know has fallen prey to financial abuse. Anyone can be a target, but criminals will often target socially isolated people. Learn the signs of financial abuse so you can help protect your patients, clients, neighbours, friends or family members.

Has the person:

• Had work done on their property or garden that wasn't planned?
• Been pressured into additional work that has cost more money?
• Visited the bank or cash machine more than usual, or made any large online transfers?
• Not been given a detailed receipt for the work that has been done?
• Understood exactly what work is being completed?
• Started acting troubled or distracted

Has the trader:

• Made contact by cold-calling the potential victim?
• Failed to provide a 'right of cancellation' notice?
• Returned to the property frequently to do other work or drop off other workers?
• Refused to speak to anyone other than the potential victim?
• Completed work to a poor standard or not completed work at all?
• Demanded to be paid in cash or a cheque made out to a different name?

Report financial abuse

We work with the police to protect people from doorstep crime and financial abuse. If you have concerns about a neighbour, family member, friend, patient, client or someone you visit, please report it:

• To report a crime in progress, call 999.
• To report a crime that has taken place, call the police on 101.
• To get advice contact Citizen's Advice consumer helpline [https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/if-you-need-more-help-about-a-consumer-issue/]. 

Any delay can result in more money being lost, criminals will demand cash, which is harder to trace and refund.

What is a rogue trader?

Rogue traders are criminals. They appear to be professional tradespeople, using printed leaflets and well kept vehicles, but these are used to con people. Criminal activities can include fraud, charging high prices for poor work or charging for work that is not done or isn't needed. In the worst cases, they commit burglary.

They will often target the most vulnerable and then share their information with other criminals.

What is the rapid response team?

It is a team of officers from Business Compliance, who, whenever possible, will aim to attend incidents where it is believed that rogue traders are targeting residents and are still at the property, in the area or likely to return. They will often work with police officers.

What is the aim of the rapid response team?

Officers aim to disrupt the activities of the criminals and, when suitable, help make arrests. They deter criminals by sending out a clear message that they are ready to act to protect residents.

What are my rights if I enter into an agreement at home?

The law gives people 14 days to cancel contracts signed in the home where the cost of the work is over £42.

The trader must give you a copy of your cancellation rights in writing when you agree to have any work done. It's a criminal offence if they don't.

If you are not offered this information about your rights clearly, in a written format at the time of agreeing to have work done - don't deal with them and report them to us.

Always be wary of leaflets posted through your door offering services, this can be just another way an unscrupulous trader will attempt to persuade you to have work done.

If in doubt, don't sign anything, and if you suspect it, report it! [/tsreportit]

The above applies to contracts made after 13 June 2014.

For contracts entered into before this date contact the Citizens Advice consumer service for advice:  0808 223 1133.

Stop cold callers

Coventry's no cold calling sticker pack

We are giving residents the ability to choose whether to receive uninvited sales calls from traders. Residents who do not want to receive such visits are invited to get a notice to display on their front door or window to show that they do not welcome cold callers. We expect traders to respect the wishes of householders. If they do not, it is possible that the trader commits a criminal offence.

Find out more about cold callers [/info/30/trading_standards/1410/doorstep_sellerscallers].

Trustmark Scheme

Ask friends or family to recommend good traders they have dealt with, but if they cannot help, it is best to use a trader that is a member of the Trustmark [http://www.trustmark.org.uk/] scheme or member of a trade association. Some trade associations operate a code of practice for their traders, and can help resolve any issues with their members if that code is broken, but the help they offer does vary, so check each trade association carefully.

However, watch out for traders who claim to be members when they are not, so always check out any claims and credentials.