Cold shoulder for con callers
One of the great things about my job with Which? is that I get to help consumers across the country by giving advice through the media, like this column, or on television or radio. Communication is a vital part of how Which? can help people deal with their consumer problems and try to protect them particularly when it comes to rogue traders.
I was on LBC radio recently talking about that very subject, for while you might think that in this digital age scams are all now online - you’d be wrong, they still turn up on the doorstep.
At Which? we recently discovered that more than half of our members have had a trader either phone out of the blue or turn up unannounced, with “cold callers” promising to trim trees, pressure wash driveways, fix guttering or even install new double glazing.
These fraudsters look for homes with tired or rundown exteriors; they use scare tactics about home security; they will lie about the urgency of the work needing done or claim they’re in the area and have materials left over from another job; and some even work in teams by discreetly marking pavements outside houses of those they’ve already scammed.
Unsurprisingly one in seven people in our survey said the experience made them lose trust in traders, while eight per cent said they had suffered emotional distress as a result.
At Which? we would always recommend turning away a cold caller. And if they give the hard sell, you should never feel pressured into saying yes.
But if work does need done, take your time to get the right trader for the job.
Start by getting a number of quotes on price to test whether the cold caller’s estimate was reasonable. And if they’re genuine they also shouldn’t mind you seeing previous examples of their work or even speaking to former customers.
Make sure they’re registered with their trade body and check with Companies House to see how long they’ve been trading.
Most importantly, make sure you get everything in writing including dates, price and the work being done. And pay by credit card as this gives extra protection if you need to claim money back.
Not every cold caller is a scammer but if you follow our advice you will be able to protect yourself from those who are.
Send me your consumer queries to askalex@which. co.uk