Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards service is warning elderly residents to be cautious of spray loft insulation foam scams currently targeting the county.
Unscrupulous companies are targeting residents with loft spray insulation foam at exorbitant prices. Repeat scams are being attempted on those who have already had the insulation installed. These homeowners are falsely informed that the spray foam has caused dangerously high moisture levels in their lofts. Fraudsters then sell them unnecessary solutions at grossly inflated prices, such as ventilation systems for £4,500—five times their actual value.
Other residents have been misled into purchasing ‘roof coatings’ under the pretence that they are necessary for properties with spray foam insulation. This service involves jet-washing roof tiles before applying a waterproof coating. Once again, this service is entirely unnecessary and vastly overpriced, costing up to £5,000.
Herefordshire Council’s Trading Standards service manager, David Hough, says:
“We believe many hundreds of local homeowners are being targeted at the moment. The scammers find their potential victims by using databases of those in their 70s and 80s. Spray foam loft insulation is simply not necessary and at best all homeowners require is a top up of their existing ceiling level insulation. The scammers also use lists of properties that have already had spray foam insulation fitted.
“They then send a commission-only salesman to the resident’s home, often pretending to be a qualified surveyor. The salesman then pressurises the homeowner to sign a contract for unnecessary, expensive work. This is carried out within days to minimise the chances of the homeowners cancelling the order,”
“We urge local residents to avoid becoming a victim of these scams by simply not engaging with any cold callers, whether on the telephone or at the door,” he adds.
