Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards service is warning elderly residents not to fall for spray foam loft insulation scams currently active in the county.
Unscrupulous companies are targeting residents with spray foam insulation at excessive prices. Repeat scams are also being attempted on those who have previously had the insulation installed. These homeowners are falsely being told the spray foam has caused dangerously high moisture levels in their lofts. Fraudsters are then selling them unnecessary solutions at grossly inflated prices. These include ventilation systems for £4,500, which is five times what they are worth.
Other residents have been mis-sold ‘roof coatings’ on the basis that they are needed on properties that have spray foam insulation. This service involves jet-washing roof tiles before spraying them with a waterproof coating. Again, this is wholly unnecessary and vastly overpriced at anything up to £5,000.
Our Trading Standards service manager, David Hough, says:
“We believe many hundreds of local homeowners are being targeted at the moment. The scammers find their potential victims by using databases of those in their 70s and 80s. Spray foam loft insulation is simply not necessary and at best all homeowners require is a top up of their existing ceiling level insulation. The scammers also use lists of properties that have already had spray foam insulation fitted.
“They then send a commission-only salesman to the resident’s home, often pretending to be a qualified surveyor. The salesman then pressurises the homeowner to sign a contract for unnecessary, expensive work. This is carried out within days to minimise the chances of the homeowners cancelling the order,”
Give cold callers the cold shoulder
David continues:
“We urge local residents to avoid becoming a victim of these scams by simply not engaging with any cold callers, whether on the telephone or at the door,” he adds.
Anyone who is concerned about cold calls is urged to contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 2231133 or visit our scam advice pages for more information.