Isle of Wight residents are being urged not to engage with traders who knock on their door offering to carry out work, as Trading Standards warns rogue operators can leave properties in a worse condition than they found them.
The Isle of Wight Council’s Trading Standards team is reminding householders to remain vigilant when answering the door and to avoid agreeing to work offered by cold callers, regardless of how persuasive they may appear.
The warning applies to all types of doorstep traders, including those offering seemingly simple jobs such as jet washing driveways.
Trading Standards says reputable businesses rarely rely on unsolicited doorstep calls to generate work and is advising residents to arrange property maintenance through trusted sources instead.
Homeowners are encouraged to use traders listed on the Isle of Wight Council’s Trader Approval Scheme, whose members have been vetted by Trading Standards officers. Alternatively, residents are advised to seek recommendations from friends or family and obtain more than 1 quote before agreeing to any work.
People should also ensure they obtain the trader’s full name and address before work begins, as this information may be needed if problems arise later.
The council is also warning residents to be cautious when using online platforms that simply match customers with tradespeople, saying these are generally not trader approval schemes and may not carry out any vetting of those advertising their services.
Residents arranging waste removal are reminded to check that the person collecting the waste is a registered waste carrier by asking to see their waste carrier licence number and ensuring they receive a waste transfer note.
Those wishing to deter doorstep callers can request a free ‘No Cold Calling’ sticker by contacting the council’s Trading Standards team at [email protected].
If residents encounter suspected rogue traders, they are advised not to engage with them. Where it is safe to do so, Trading Standards recommends noting vehicle registration numbers and descriptions of the individuals before reporting them to Trading Standards on 01983 823371 or by email at [email protected], and to Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary via 101.
Anyone seeking advice about scams can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 250 5050, while suspected fraud can be reported to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
