The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) is reiterating its previous advice concerning itinerant rogue traders following reports of suspicious behaviour on the Island.
Whilst rogue traders are known to target the elderly and the vulnerable in particular, all householders should beware.
The traders will illegally tout for work by knocking on doors in the hope of persuading householders to have work done on their homes.
This is known as ‘cold-calling’ and is illegal in the Isle of Man.
Rogue traders
The OFT offers the advice below to householders and would encourage the friends, neighbours and relatives of those most vulnerable to make them aware:
- Do NOT use traders who call at your home without an appointment offering to do work;
- Do NOT be pressurised into having unnecessary work done;
- Do NOT fall for patter such as ‘We were just in the area and noticed a problem’;
- Do NOT part with a significant amount of cash up front;
- Put one of its ‘We do NOT deal with uninvited traders’ signs in the window of your porch or front door. These can be obtained from the OFT office or website.
Tim Glover MHK, Chair of the OFT, said: “We strongly advise householders not to deal with traders who turn up uninvited on their doorstep touting for work.
“They will most likely be rogue traders. Report such occurrences to the police or Trading Standards and also report any instances of suspicious behaviour at the homes of elderly or vulnerable friends, neighbours or relatives.”
Anyone being pestered by a rogue trader should call the police or Trading Standards for advice.
People that are concerned they have already fallen foul of a rogue trader should contact the OFT’s Trading Standards team by emailing iomfairtrading@gov.im or calling 01624 686500.
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