Reports of rogue gardeners and high‑pressure cleaners approaching at the doorstep are prompting Trading Standards to advise residents to avoid unsolicited traders and stay vigilant.
As the weather improves and gardening and outdoor maintenance work is certain to increase, there is a potential for doorstep crime to also increase. Bromley Trading Standards is therefore warning residents about gardeners and high-pressure cleaners cold calling at homes and using pressure tactics to secure work. Recent reports show residents being persuaded into withdrawing cash and paying substantial sums for work that was incomplete or never carried out.
In one reported incident in Mottingham, a resident was cold called by a gardener and pressured into withdrawing almost £400 in cash for initial work. The trader then demanded for a further £500 to £600 cash to be paid in advance for additional work, after which the trader failed to return. A second report involved high-pressure cleaning activity in Bromley, during which the doorstep criminals had become confrontational when challenged by neighbours acting to protect a vulnerable resident.
How these scams typically work
Cold callers will often offer to complete a small patch of work to demonstrate supposed effectiveness, and then they escalate to pressuring residents into having the entire area done. Claims may be made about "special" cleaning solutions, when in reality, high-pressure cleaning can spread dirt and cause surface or property damage. Work is frequently rushed, overpriced, or poorly completed, with little or no opportunity for redress.
Doorstep criminals rely on quick decisions and may appear professional through online advertising or branded materials, making them difficult to distinguish from legitimate businesses. Learn how to protect yourself and avoid falling victim to doorstep crime.
How to protect yourself
When seeking a trader for home maintenance work, including but not limited to gardening and cleaning, the Trading Standards advice is clear: do plenty of research and be very selective, and don't deal with doorstep traders. Find a reliable trader through Trading Standards Checked.
Don't:
- Don't agree to work from leaflets, websites, or social media without making proper checks.
- Don't pay large sums of money upfront – schedule payment as works progress.
- Don't be rushed into decisions without independent advice.
Do:
- Obtain at least three written quotes based on a clear brief.
- Check references, reliable reviews, and previous work.
- Verify company details via Companies House.
- Confirm any claimed trade business affiliation.
- Obtain a written contract with full 14-day cooling-off rights.
- Verify insurance.
- Be cautious of cash-only payments or requests to pay individuals unconnected with the business.
- Question claims of immediate availability.
- Look out for neighbours, particularly those who are isolated or vulnerable.
Report and information
If you believe you or someone you know is at immediate risk of losing money to a scam or doorstep criminal, contact the police directly on 999.
Contact Citizens Advice for help and advice on 0808 223 1133 or on the Citizens Advice website.
Contact your bank's fraud team if you think you've been scammed: Call 159 - Stop Scams UK.
If you have been tricked into sending money by bank payment, check out the Toolkit and UK Finance Authorised Push Payment Fraud guidance for more information on recovering lost money.
See the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) website for advice on hiring gardeners.
Report fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting the Report Fraud website.
Request a No Cold Caller sticker from Trading Standards at trading.standards@bromley.gov.uk.
Visit our webpage for more Trading Standards advice.
For general information about scams in various languages, visit the Friends Against Scams website.
Bromley Trading Standards
To keep up with the latest scam alerts and warnings from Bromley Trading Standards sign up on www.bromley.gov.uk/TradingStandardsAlertSignUpForm.
Bromley Trading Standards also runs a fair-trader directory to help you find a safe, reliable trader that you can trust, visit www.bromley.gov.uk/tradingstandardschecked to learn more.