People in Wiltshire warned of loft insulation scammers ahead of winter
The Council says it's seeing more cases of people being cold called
People in Wiltshire are being warned to wary of cold callers offering loft insulation work.
The Council and Trading Standards tells us cases of cold calls are rising, with the elderly and vulnerable being targeted.
The spray foam insulation is an effective method in boosting the energy efficiency of a home and was introduced as part of the warm homes plan.
Cllr Paul Sample, Cabinet Member for Waste, Environment and Climate Change, said scammers are costing people almost £5,000 on average.
"Its a real worry," he said. "What we're trying to do is alert people to the dangers of dealing with rogue traders."
He added that legitimate companies don't rely on cold calling to generate business.
"If someone does cold call or you get a telephone call and there's a high pressure nature they want you to sign up now, that the work can be done this week, all that sort of stuff, that's not the sort of thing that a reputable company would do," Cllr Sample said.
We're urged to get multiple quotes on any work before agreeing to anything, reducing the likelihood that someone employs a rogue trader and to not feel pressured by scare tactics, which can include claims about health risks or insurance problems.
Anyone with concerns over the legitimacy of the company offering them work is urged to speak to Citizens Advice consumer service, which can be contacted on 0808 223 1133, or Wiltshire Trading Standards.