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Original poster

Tradesman who knock your door looking for business

39 replies

LeibnizQueen · 10/04/2021 23:26

When I was young. It was an absolute no-no to agree to any work being done by someone who cold called. Parents used to say you'd pay, then they'd only half do it and disappear. ..

Generally I'm pretty on it and when this guy came around about my drive a couple of times in the past years I've said no but maybe in the future. Back this week.

There's a company name, he's on checkatrade, has uniform -the works.

He's come back now and I've let him go away to give me a price. He's going to put it through the door.

However now I've looked into the reviews they are all clearly written by the same person, same style, all 10s. All unrealistic. I'm a bit suspicious. I now actually think it's a repeat of the 1970s persons mentioned in my first paragraph but now disguised as a business.

I'm a little afraid of what happens when you say no to these people after they have got as far as a quote.

I'm maybe paranoid but I've got a bad feeling about this. Anyone got experience?

OP posts:
WheresMyAlex · 10/04/2021 23:27

Any old cowboy can get on checkatrade to be honest.

PersonaNonGarter · 10/04/2021 23:27

Don’t do it. Your instincts are there for a reason.

Also tell him nothing about yourself and how/when you have cars on the drive.

Comefromaway · 10/04/2021 23:27

No way.

I mean I might let a window cleaner have a trial after knocking the door, but not a driveway.

GreyhoundG1rl · 10/04/2021 23:29

No tradesman worth his salt needs to go door knocking. Avoid.

Comefromaway · 10/04/2021 23:31

At the minimum I’d want a physical address and a recommendation from a genuine customer. (Some tradesmen will give a discount if a customer will allow others to go have a look at the workmanship)

Local builders merchants can often recommend people too.

Ohnomoreno · 10/04/2021 23:32

Most good tradesmen are currently completely unavailable because everyone wants work done. Tell him you've changed your mind and you don't want him back. I agree it's a bit worrying but should be ok. Ideally get your DH to do the telling. Usually a very different reaction.

KillerFlamingo · 10/04/2021 23:34

I agree with PPs, no decent tradesman needs to go knocking on doors. Particularly at the moment, they are all booked solid!

JackieWeaverFever · 10/04/2021 23:45

We idiotically let some guys who were cleaning gutters and knocked clean our gutters. It was all a bit of a fluster as my lovely but ineffectual husband answered the door as i was in thd middle of something and then sprung it on me as he didn't know what do to Hmm

The guy who came seemed super presentable polite uniform nice manners and we knew the neighbours whose house they were doing. I generally have good instincts and they needed doing so i said fine.
The guys who turned up to do the job were frankly a bit frightening and clearly dodgy AF. One was very keen to know how old our dog was and if she would be having puppies soon, the boss of the crew very keen to discuss what jobs we did "sure weren't we very young to be being a house this this?" "The extension is nice if say it cost you though" etc. Just plain
Dodgy.

They pointed out a load of other roofing jobs - I very politely said we had a guy and managed them out after paying them to clean the gutters and damage my lead roof 🙄

We were both terrified we'd been cased and they were coming back to rob us and slept poorly for two weeks (DH is the anxious panicker and sometimes it's contageous)

No harm but lesson learned.

JackieWeaverFever · 10/04/2021 23:49

*"sure weren't we very young to be buying a house like this?" "The extension is nice, I'd say it cost you though"
gah! predictive text

earsup · 10/04/2021 23:55

Avoid. tell him thanks for the quote and you are getting others. dont be bullied. i chucked a dodgey roofer out years ago...had 2 spotty teen lads with him also....i told them i would get the dog onto them if they didnt leave....he tried to show me pics of my roof and it wasnt mine and shouted etc. checkatrade has generally very poor trades people on it and fake reviews.

Original poster
LeibnizQueen · 10/04/2021 23:58

Thank you the unanimous response was not expected. I expected to be handed a grip !

I will go with my instincts.

OP posts:
KihoBebiluPute · 10/04/2021 23:59

Checkatrade is pointless because the tradespeople are able to delete any negative reviews so you never get a true reflection of their quality.

The genuinely good tradespeople are booked up months in advance and do not need to knock on random doors for business.

Look around your neighbourhood to find a driveway that looks good and has been done recently. Pop a note through the door asking them to let you know who did it and would they recommend the service.

Original poster
LeibnizQueen · 11/04/2021 00:00

@KihoBebiluPute

Checkatrade is pointless because the tradespeople are able to delete any negative reviews so you never get a true reflection of their quality.

The genuinely good tradespeople are booked up months in advance and do not need to knock on random doors for business.

Look around your neighbourhood to find a driveway that looks good and has been done recently. Pop a note through the door asking them to let you know who did it and would they recommend the service.

Thanks. That's a good shout. Smile

OP posts:
GreyhoundG1rl · 11/04/2021 00:02

Good roofers are like gold dust. It's a common scam to do some damage while they're cleaning the gutters which they then "discover".

EasterBunny21 · 11/04/2021 00:03

Definite no no.

Local police have been posting on FB here about an elderly couple who have been fleeced by this type of thing.

BlatheringOn · 11/04/2021 00:09

I used someone from checkatrade. Regret it now. He had a stack of forms that he complained would take him a while to fill in. It was only later that I realised that they were the customer review forms and that I should have been given one to fill in!
There have been men working on a new driveway nearby in the last week. They wore trainers and track suit bottoms, no ear defenders when drilling, no masks when working in clouds of dust from cutting paving. The 'boss' knocked on my door to offer his services; was fake friendly until I said no but then sullen. Really unpleasant! Trust your instincts.

osbertthesyrianhamster · 11/04/2021 00:10

NO. No way.

Mosaic123 · 11/04/2021 00:12

If you are fearful of them, you could say you might be losing your job so you can't commit to any work at the moment?

Anordinarymum · 11/04/2021 00:27

I allowed some roofers who knocked on the door to do some work for me when I first moved in here. I watched them and they showed me what needed doing. They charged a fair price.

I allowed a gardener who also knocked on the door to do some work cutting trees and trimming hedges. We agreed on a price, and he turned up next day with a boy who should have been at school helping him.
He only cut the conifers but omitted to cut the other bushes in the hedge because he said he only agreed to cut the conifers. I was pissed off, but because it was not agreed initially he left out a large section of my hedge and wanted more money to complete the work.
I said no and he left. My own fault I suppose
Next day my shed had been broken into and the lawn mower and the karcher were gone.

I think most people are honest. It's just the odd few that are not.

SynchroSwimmer · 11/04/2021 00:39

If he tries to speak to you or hassle you next time - just say ‘you will pass the quote to your landlord” to see if “your landlord will get the driveway done for you”

LittlestBoho · 11/04/2021 02:55

They sound dodgy. If you're worried about letting them down after they've done a quote, use the "I'll ask my landlord" approach as suggested by a PP, or say you've just lost your job so won't be getting the work done after all.

Gothichouse40 · 11/04/2021 02:59

Why are workmen going around doors during a Pandemic? That aside, I tell them I do not entertain business discussed on doorsteps and refuse to deal with them. Ive also reported it to the police as some have been well dodgy. Especially the one who when I asked for ID told me he had left it at the office..... Also, on asking what company he worked for constantly changed the subject. Im convinced they come round doors to see if anyone is in, or to try and scope out the place.

memberofthewedding · 11/04/2021 03:25

Personal recommendation is always the best way.

A nearby house had quarry tiles laid outside and most were cut in situ. The workmen had a liveried van, safety clothes, and "caution work in progress" notices on the street while they were generating clouds of dust. They also had a large notice outside advertising their company with phone contact and website info. The adjoining house was so impressed with the quality of the work that they booked them immediately, and several others in the street have since had them in.

There is no substitute for seeing properly skilled and qualified tradespeople at work and seeing the results for yourself.

salsmum · 11/04/2021 04:20

Some years ago my brother and SIL
had a hedge cut all around their front garden, quite long and high and they paid a LOT of money to have it cut... a day or two after completion they came back and emptied the shed of all the power tools, lawnmower etc.. 🤬🤬

HotelCaliforniaOnRepeat · 11/04/2021 05:30

Tradesmen are busier than ever since covid. If they have to knock for work then your instincts are telling you the right things.