Beware of doorstep crime

A photo of a row of houses.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich is working hard to track down and prosecute doorstep criminals across the borough. 

Unfortunately we are seeing a rise in doorstep crime in Royal Greenwich. Doorstep crime refers to criminal activity taking place after an unexpected visit from a tradesperson, who usually claims that there’s something wrong with your home that they can fix. The work is often not completed or completed to a poor quality, with an extortionate price tag. They often use tactics to pressure their victims into making quick decisions and paying upfront for the work. 

Tips on how to protect yourself from doorstep crime

  • Never buy goods and services from traders who call uninvited at your home.
  • Consider fitting door chains so that you have that additional security if you must open the door.
  • If anyone knocks at your door check their identification.
  • If someone is persistent, ask them to leave - genuine callers should understand and respect your request.
  • For any work on your house, obtain three quotes before deciding on a company - don’t be pressurised into making a quick decision.
  • Don’t keep large amounts of money in your home and don’t pay cash up front – ever.
  • All home improvement contracts should be cancellable; you should be given a written notice explaining your rights.
  • If you can, display a ‘No Cold Calling’ sticker outside your door.
  • If you suspect you have been visited by a doorstep criminal, report it to Citizens Advice Consumer Service by calling 0808 223 1133 or visit their website for some clear practical consumer advice.
  • If you think a doorstep crime is happening to you in real time, call the council’s dedicated helpline on 07714 072979. 

Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement said: “Our message is simple – never deal at the door! If a cold caller knocks at your door, we advise not to engage. If they leave a business card, always check that the company is legitimate with a tradesperson listing organisation.  

“We are working hard to identify doorstep criminals, hold them accountable, and to reimburse the victims with the money they have lost.” 

We are coming down hard on doorstep criminals, here are some recent cases where the council has intervened. 

In September this year, a vulnerable resident was cold called by a roofer who let them know that their TV ariel had become dislodged and they could fix it. The roofer then claimed to find other work that required attention, including a rebuild and repointing of the chimney. 

After the ariel was removed (which the resident did not consent to), a contract was handed over for the other work on the roof, amounting to £4,300, with an £800 deposit which the resident paid upfront. 

Work started the same day and a few days later the trader let the resident know the cost had increased to £16,500, as the entire roof now needed to be replaced, causing the resident great panic.

After being referred to the council’s Trading Standards team by social services, officers spoke to the trader which resulted in them agreeing to pay back the deposit and cancel the contract. 

In another recent case, a vulnerable resident was quoted for some work in their back garden from a tradesperson who cold called their home. After quoting £8,000, they started the work the same day. After the work was completed, the trader said the final quote had increased to £14,500. 

The council attended the property with a reputable trader to give an accurate quote for the work, which they valued at £5,000. 

The Trading Standards team demanded that the trader refunds the resident £10,000, agreeing for them to pay £1,000 a month until the cost is covered. 

Doorstep criminals can face an unlimited fine and up to 14 years in prison. 

Find a trusted trader 

There are a number of places where you can check if a trader is legitimate. The organisations below only list companies which have been fully checked and vetted by a local authority Trading Standards service. 

Friends Against Scams App 

National Trading Standards have recently launched their Friends Against Scams App which offers scam awareness training, image and screenshot analysis of suspicious emails, texts, or letters, and a tool to check whether a website is trustworthy. Download the app for free by searching for it in the app store.