Watch out for ‘rogue traders’

Residents in the Salisbury and Amesbury areas are being warned to be vigilant following two reports of rogue traders in the area.

Rogue traders will often approach residents offering housing maintenance services. They often use aggressive tactics and may try to pressure residents into accepting their services, which may be carried out to a poor standard, or not carried out at all.

During one of the latest incidents reported to police, suspects attended an address in Wilton, and quoted the resident £3,000 to clean the moss from her roof before returning the following day, increasing the quote and starting the work without the homeowner’s consent.  

In a similar incident, suspects turned up at an address in Barford St Martin on March 21 and 22 and quoted the elderly resident £3,000 for roof, gutter and patio cleaning. They were aggressive towards the woman after she changed her mind about having the work carried out.

PC Mat Jacob said: “We are carrying out enquiries in relation to these incidents but we want to make sure residents are aware and remain vigilant. Look out for the following warning signs that someone may be a rogue trader:  

– Unsolicited offers for house maintenance services

– High-pressure sales tactics

– Lack of proper identification or credentials

– Refusal to provide written estimates or contracts

“These rogue traders may not have the expertise or qualifications to perform quality work, and in some cases, they may even attempt to scam unsuspecting homeowners.

“If you want work carried out at your property, ensure you are protecting yourself and your home but getting multiple quotes from reputable, licenced professionals before making a decision, never feel pressured to agree to immediate repairs or services and trust your instincts. You can also check your local council and Trading Standards websites for lists of reputable businesses.

“If you encounter any suspicious individuals or have information about rogue traders operating in your area, please report it to Trading Standards or the police immediately.”