Dodge the Doorstep Traders
16 Dec 2010
With the weather steadily improving, the sunshine can often lead
to an increase in doorstep traders, but homeowners should take care
when the door bell rings - nearly three million people have fallen
victim to a rogue doorstep trader*. Whilst doorstep selling is not
illegal and there are many legitimate businesses selling to
homeowners successfully, there are unfortunately a small number of
rogue traders who prey on the vulnerable - particularly older
homeowners, to extract large sums of money for shoddy
workmanship.
When offering services such as driveway re-surfacing, block
paving, roofing and gardening, they tempt homeowners with
attractive prices, yet this often results in the finished job being
far more expensive than the original quote and completed to a poor
standard. The sell is usually aggressive, with many misleading
claims such as falsely declaring being endorsed by a trade
association or a local council. All of this can leave the homeowner
feeling forced into making a hasty decision which they later come
to regret.
Roman Russocki, Chief Executive of TrustMark said: "Rogue doorstep
traders often use a range of persuasive and emotional tactics to
secure a quick sale, with many offering cheap rates. Do not fall
for the misleading quote as it will only cost you more in the long
run. We urge all homeowners who are looking to complete
improvements on their property to find a reputable trader through
an established consumer organisation such as TrustMark."
TrustMark, the Government backed not for profit quality mark for
tradesmen, provides homeowners with easy access to thousands of
reputable and reliable local tradesmen. Using TrustMark to find a
qualified professional for all your home improvement needs will
ensure that you do not fall victim to a rogue doorstep tradesman
and that the job is finished to your satisfaction and for a fair
price.
How to avoid a rogue doorstep trader
- Be cautious of any special offers
- Be wary of any warnings about your home i.e. the tiles on your roof look dangerously loose
- Do not hand over any cash, not even a deposit
- Be careful of traders only wanting to deal with cash
- Do not commit to any work that must start straight away
- Only deal with traders by appointment
- Always ask for a form of ID and check this carefully
- Find a trusted tradesmen via a reputable organisation such as TrustMark
Note to editors:
*Research conducted by YouGov, 2009