Scammed by rogue trader and feel so stupid

[scammedmum29]

Posting here for traffic.

Answered the door yesterday to a “tradesman” working in the area and offered to do some work in our garden as a “one off special price”. Husband and I agreed. He had leaflets and signage on his van / clothes so appeared legit on first glance. During the work he came back and offered to do some more, my husband answered this time and agreed to it - I felt uneasy at that point but it was too late.

The work was done, it looked okay but they claimed to seal our driveway with a “special product”- we think it was just bleach and water.

We now realise we’ve been scammed and paid over the odds for sub standard work, cost us several hundred pounds. We’re going to get DHs friend who works in the trade to check over the drive etc to make sure there’s no damage so not too concerned about that. Overall we just feel so foolish, we’re normally so on the ball with things like that and can’t believe we’ve been so stupid.

I don’t know why I’m posting to be honest, I just can’t shake off thinking about it.

What work did they do and how much did you pay?

Just chalk it up to experience - scammers have a gift for persuasion. I know that ANYONE can get caught out. Remind yourself it could have been worse, resist blaming yourselves or each other and put it behind you.

So they jet washed your drive for hundreds of pounds? This is very common.

They “steam cleaned” and “re-sealed” our driveway. We now realise they just pressure washed it and told us a story about using a steam cleaner. A few hundred pounds.

I don’t know if the distraction of working from home and having young children stopped us thinking clearly. We know you should never let anyone that knocks on the door do work there and then, can’t believe we were so stupid.

If you have their number and contact information, ask them for a breakdown of the work done. And if they have scammed you report them to trading standards. See if they have a website and leave bad reviews on trade sites. I know what you feel like OP; you can be savvy about these things but in the moment still fall victim to scammers.

Does the driveway look different? Get a second option but to be honest I think you'll have to put this one down to experience and try not to dwell on it. Decent tradesmen don't knock on doors, they are usually booked up well in advance so he clearly wasn't decent.

Honestly, don't worry about it.
There is nothing you can do about it now and the being upset is not worth a few hundred £.
Chalk it up to experience, these things happen, and try to forget it.

They're professional scammers, OP, you're not the first and you won't be the last. Report them to Trading Standards, give them a bad review if you find them on tradesman review websites, warn people in the local area. It sucks but at least they didn't do anything like electrical work.

Thanks, I know we just have to chalk it up to experience. I doubt we’ll see them back in this area and from searching them online there’s no website or reviews on any of the usual websites.

We’ve ordered the materials to re-sand and seal the driveway ourselves to ensure there’s no damage.

They also cleaned part of our roof which concerned me but DH has arranged for his friend that works in the trade to inspect it for us properly. DH has already checked it over outside and in the loft and all appears to be okay but we want a proper opinion.

I guess we’re just so annoyed at ourselves that we let someone claim to be a washing specialist and in reality they’ve just power washed everything and taken our cash.

Embarrassed and lesson learned. Will report it.

I'm sorry this happened to you, but it's good that you're telling others because they may question it when a scammer knocks on their door in the future.
Please report this to Trading Standards. Many people don't report these incidents which is one of the reasons why scammers are so successful.

Just be thankful it wasn't a few thousand pounds op. I know the type of people you are talking about, we've had them come here, they are very charming and persuasive usually! The thing you've got to remember is NO reputable company goes knocking for adhoc work like this, they are simply too busy and don't need to. Just put it down to experience.

I see why you are frustrated. 💐
I hope your DH’s friend confirms the work is done to a good standard
As you said, lessons learned. It’s terrible feeling when you realise what a foolish thing you have done, you have my sympathies

Live and learn and try not to blame each other with your DH 👍

Thank you for the replies, you have all made me feel much better.

We’ll get the drive and roof checked over properly to see they’ve not damaged it and chalk it up to experience.

@scammedmum29 My mum and friend got scammed by the same man on the same day - made £600 out of them. Bastard.

I have a rule to never deal with anyone who just turns up uninvited selling anything at my front door. I literally open the door and say I do not transact with people at the door and give them a withering look.

Basically don’t give them the chance to go in to their spiel and beware companies that say they are trying to help ex offenders. DH has made two mistakes at the front door, buying crappy cleaning products from the notorious duster knockers and buying compost. Both over priced. But he is a sucker for a sob story.

Report to trading standards for sure

This is a well know scam (not trying to make you feel bad, lots of people go for it). They just pressure was your drive and make out like it’s more fancy. I doubt they will have done any damage. Try not to worry about it, you’ve paid over the odds but no harm done really.

I had the same, it was leaflet through the door. I have no idea why I went for it, I just wanted the work doing but paid over the odds for it. Live and learn I guess.

I’m sorry OP, it’s upsetting when these things happen. As others have said I think you need to chalk it up to experience and try to move on. You’re not the first person to be caught out, and you won’t be the last.

As a general rule I think it’s best to refuse any tradesmen that knock on your door who speculatively check in to see if you need work done. There will be legitimate and trustworthy ones of course who are just trying to expand their business, but many scammers do this to catch people off guard. You’re better off researching anyone who hire, or better yet get recommendations from friends - even for small, low priced jobs. Sometimes a doorstep scammer will say a small job will be a certain amount - which may seem reasonable when you accept - but then they might find they need to use a different tool, or there’s a problem, and suddenly that amount increases.

But try not to feel silly. These people hone their con and know exactly what to say to hook you in.

The rule to go by is that if you want work done - you find someone to do it. No legitimate person walks up to you on the off-chance you might need their help - save, perhaps, the exception of children washing cars. Doctors don't come to your house just to check you don't need an appointment, lawyers don't come to your house and ask if you're getting divorced...
I'm sorry you were scammed, it's easy enough for it to happen.