Citizens Advice says roofing scams are leaving people thousands of pounds out of pocket
A growing number of consumers are being scammed out of thousands of pounds by rogue roofers – who are inventing non-existent problems, charging for phantom repairs and targeting people on their doorstep.
Suspected roofing scams were the top scam the Citizens Advice Consumer Service saw in the last year, making up 10% of goods or service complaints flagged as scams.
A shocking one in four of all the roofing complaints it received in the same period were suspected scams.
With advisers routinely helping consumers left thousands of pounds out of pocket, the charity is revealing its latest findings as part of its annual Scams Awareness campaign, which kicks off today (12th October).
Roofing work covers everything from construction to repairs and weatherproofing. Consumers reported ‘traders’ disappearing with their money, being tricked into paying for work not carried out, damage or issues being invented, aggressive sales tactics, demands for payment which left them feeling intimidated and being grossly overcharged.
The charity found fraudsters used doorstep sales tactics in a staggering three quarters (77%) of suspected roofing scams, making it the most common method deployed to catch homeowners out.
These scams were part of almost 9,000 roofing-related complaints received by the Citizens Advice Consumer Service – equivalent to one every 13 minutes.
Advisers help thousands caught out by scams
Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said: “Poor quality work is an issue in the roofing sector. But there’s a difference between a roofer who does a shoddy job, and a scammer who commits a calculated crime – designed solely to extort money from homeowners.
“Scammers exploit the fact that roofs are out of sight and reach, knowing most people can’t easily inspect the work themselves.
“Our advisers help thousands of people caught out by roofing scams each year. With the impacts often devastating – leaving people thousands of pounds out of pocket – we’re urging consumers to make thorough checks before agreeing to building work.”
Jane Parsons, Consumer Expert at Citizens Advice, shared her top tips on how to avoid rogue traders – and what to do if you have a problem with home repair work:
Your local council might be able to offer you a list of traders.
The trader may also belong to a trade association, so you can check if it offers any support. Read more about how to find traders you can trust.
Be wary of anyone offering to deliver unsolicited work, either by knocking on your door or calling you on the phone. Ask for references and make sure you get everything in writing, including details of any work you agree.
Be wary of traders who won’t put anything in writing, only accept cash or want you to pay everything upfront.
If there’s a problem caused by a trader, you should be able to get it fixed or get some money back. Gather paperwork and receipts, take photos to use as evidence, and make notes about what’s happened – including times and dates.
Your rights will vary depending on your situation – you can find more advice on our website. If a trader is at your home when you agree to roofing work, you have 14 days to cancel. The trader has to give you the information about your right to cancel in writing. If a trader hasn’t done a good job with ‘reasonable care and skill’, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 entitles you to ask for the problem to be fixed or for a refund.
Contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service to report a problem or if you need more help – a trained adviser can give you advice over the phone or online.
