Rogue Traders pretend to be trades or sales people offering various goods and services to you in your own home.
They generally carry out poor work, sometimes no work at all and will try to massively overcharge. Often they target the vulnerable and elderly.
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Typically, these criminals pretend to be trades people offering repairs, services and maintenance to homes and gardens, but with the intention of obtaining money and no real intention of providing anything in return.
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They will often carry out poor work (sometimes no work at all) and massively overcharge.
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They are often difficult to trace because they do not have a fixed business address and are highly mobile.
No Rogue Trader Zones
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Identify neighbourhoods where there are high levels of doorstep crime.
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Raise awareness of the issues.
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Signs on lamp posts, books and window stickers delivered to homes.
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Publicise Bogus Caller Hotline
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Rapid Response in certain circumstances
As part of a pilot project, 22,000 households in Dudley borough will benefit from being in a no rogue trader zone.
The Dudley Trading Standards team has identified Halesowen North and South, Hayley Green and Cradley South and Belle Vale as the borough’ s first no rogue trader zones.
The zones, which started to roll out August 2011, have been funded by safe & sound, Dudley’s community safety partnership, and have been set up to deter rogue traders and promote the council’s bogus caller hotline.
Bogus caller hotline
The Bogus caller hotline is 01384 812045.
The hotline is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year and is open to any concerned citizen in Dudley.
What will Dudley trading standards do?
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Trading standards will investigate any possible rogue traders
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The quicker we find out, the more we can do!
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A rapid response procedure exists, whereby Trading Standards and the Police will attend a rogue trader incident immediately in certain circumstances
Rapid Response Criteria
Rapid response is available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
In the following circumstances Dudley Trading Standards will aim to be on site anywhere in the Dudley Borough within 1 hour.
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The trader/offender is still present at the householder’s home
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The trader/offender has left, but is believed to be nearby
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The trader/offender has left, but is expected to return
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Notification by a bank or building society that an elderly/vulnerable person has been taken by a trader/offender to draw out a large amount of cash for work on their home
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The householder is particularly distressed/vulnerable and needs urgent victim support
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The trader/offender has left, but there is a need to attend to secure evidence which may otherwise be lost
Practical tips
Here are some practical tips on how to avoid falling victim to bogus callers, doorstep sellers or distraction burglary.
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Lock, Stop, Chain, Check
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Beware of unscrupulous callers who may try to pressure you into buying. Do not fall victim to cons or scams, or let them distract you to get into your home. Here are some helpful tips:
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Always put a door chain on before opening the door, or look through a door spy-hole or a window
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Always ask for proof of identification
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Do not be afraid to phone the company or organisation the caller says they are from to check their validity
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Get the telephone number yourself from a separate source, not from the caller’s ID card
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Genuine callers will not mind waiting while you do this
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Do not let anyone enter your house until you are completely satisfied their reason for calling is genuine
Verifying Callers from the Council
If the caller says they are from Dudley Council, they should have identification from the council to support this. If they cannot produce any identification do not let them into your home.
You can check with the council to see if they are carrying out any activities in your area which would result in a representative knocking on your door by calling 0300 555 2345.
