Trading Standards Scam Warnings - Loft Insulation Surveys

13th April 2023

Loft Insulation Surveys

The Scam
There has been a recent increase in cold calls from companies offering 'free' surveys of loft insulation.
One woman was cold called by someone who said they needed to come and inspect her loft insulation. They told her she was eligible for a free survey and that there was a representative in her area if she wanted to make an appointment.
They were reluctant to provide any company details, but told her they worked in Health and Safety. They asked her a number of questions, including the type of property she lived in and her age.

She agreed to arrange a home visit - another salesman came to her house the following day, inspected her loft and suggested that her existing insulation was insufficient and unsafe.

Before agreeing to have any work carried out, the woman asked a friend, who is a builder, for a second opinion. He checked the loft and found that there were no issues with the insulation.

Several people in Dumfries and Galloway have also recently been cold called by a company which claims to work for the local council and offers to install new loft insulation. They say that the homeowner may be eligible to receive a government grant.
One homeowner contacted the council to verify the identity of the caller - they confirmed that the company had not been contracted to carry out any work for them.


How to Avoid

If a cold caller says they are working for your local council, ask them to wait and phone the council using a publicly listed number to verify their identity. Genuine callers will be happy to wait while you do this.

Cold callers may try to sell you energy saving or home improvement measures that you don't actually need and which won't provide any benefit.
If you are concerned about your existing insulation or any other energy saving measures in your home, seek impartial advice from trusted companies rather than cold callers or online adverts.

Home Energy Scotland offer free and impartial advice on energy saving measures and information about funding available in your area - call them free on 0808 808 2282 or visit www.homeenergyscotland.org.

Find out More
Avoid Insulation Scams - PDF: www.tsscot.co.uk/Spray-Foam-Journey.pdf
Home Energy Scotland: www.homeenergyscotland.org
Advice on loft/roof insulation from the Energy Saving Trust: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/advice/roof-and-loft-insulation
Find traders who have been vetted and approved by local Trading Standards officers: www.approvedtrader.scot