Protecting vulnerable people against rogue traders

Protecting vulnerable people against rogue traders

Good afternoon,

My apologies for a second email in one day that may not be in line with your priorities, again, I felt it was a really important message that will help us protect our vulnerable loved ones. Please let me know using the buttons below how helpful this has been, thank you.

This morning I became aware of couple of calls regarding ‘rogue traders’ in the local area ( not Rushmoor at that time). A ‘Rogue Trader’ is the term we use when someone is using unethical means to secure a job; for example, leading a home owner to believe they need urgent and significant repairs done to their roof, charging excessively more than is reasonable, and often increasing the quote as they go due to more problems they say they have found.

How do you secure yourselves, and others from this type of incident, please see below for some useful tips:

Check ID of anyone calling at your door- shut your door leaving them on the outside, and then call to confirm their identify- don't use the number on their own card, try to authenticate a switchboard number by checking using other sources- internet for example.

Don't agree to having work done there and then, and be wary of them offering you a special deal but only if you sign up ‘right now’. A reliable and credible tradesperson is unlikely to have be immediately for significant jobs.

If you agree you that work is required, thank them for bringing it to their attention, and tell them you'll be in touch- and shut the door. You are well within your rights to take your time to research, quotes / tradespeople, and what work you are going to have done, and when.

If you feel more vulnerable when people are at your house doing work, ask someone to wait in with you whilst it's done. Any legitimate tradesperson will not mind you doing this, and indirectly it safeguards them also, so they may well actively welcome it.

There are other suggestions available, and other initiatives in place to help protect residents- for example you may live within a No Cold Calling Zone.

Finally, if you see someone approaching a neighbour, or someone approaches you, and you think that their engagement is aggressive, or causes you concern at all, please do not hesitate to contact us on 999/101. 999 is for emergencies, but if someone is using violence to threaten you, especially if you are vulnerable for any reason, please rest assured all calls are graded.

The Blue Lamp Trust is a charity which you can self refer to, should you wish to have a visit completed at your home to ensure it is as secure as possible: THE BLUE LAMP TRUST | DRIVEN BY SAFETY

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Kind Regards

Annette

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Message Sent By
Annette Barnett
(Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, PC, Farnborough South & West)