Loft Insultation Scams
The Public Protection Partnership are advising residents to be on their guard as the cold sets in. The Cost of Living crisis has hit hard and many people are trying to find ways to insulate their home to reduce the use of energy. At this time of year be especially wary of unsolicited telephone calls and leaflets advertising services for insulation and spray foam for the loft.
Common tactics are to cause unnecessary concern by giving false information about damp, condensation or glass fibers as well as false claims about inflated reductions in energy bills. The foam products are specialist and may not be suitable for the area in which they are used – they can even give off harmful vapours during installation and the foam could result in high levels of condensation and damp causing rafters to rot. Any installations should be carried out by professionals and the product applied to satisfy a minimum certified standard. In some cases the resale value of a home is affected as the insulation may need to be removed before any contract is concluded.
This is a timely reminder to residents to never agree to work being undertaken as the result of a cold call on the telephone or someone knocking at your door. If you do receive such contact do not agree to any work starting immediately nor give out any personal information or bank details.
Report any concerns to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06 or by visiting the Citizens Advice website
