Beware of scammers peddling dodgy spray foam loft insulation
As households continue to face high energy bills, the Wales Against Scams Partnership has warned that scammers are targeting vulnerable people with dodgy and non-existent insulation offers.
WASP, which is a network of various different organisations, is urging people to seek professional advice before insulating their lofts with spray foam.
In 2023 insulation was one of the most common nuisance call topics, according to data provided by trueCall, a provider of call-blocking devices.
Below, we outline how to avoid and report dodgy sellers.
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What is insulation spray foam?
Spray foam is a liquid foam that can be used to insulate various areas of your home, such as your loft, to keep in the warmth and reduce energy costs.
It typically costs between £600 and £1,100, but due to safety issues it should always be installed by a professional.
The installer must be trained and assessed by the British Board of Agrément (BBA, a UK trade body that certifies installers’ competence), and the spray foam product should also have a BBA certificate or equivalent.
It’s also important that the installation conforms with the manufacturer's requirements, building regulations, and health and safety rules.
Spray foam has a number of drawbacks including high cost and safety concerns, and could potentially lower your property's value. Because of this, the potential risks are likely to outweigh the rewards.
- Read more: Spray foam insulation explained
Dangerous spray foam scam
Fraudsters have been found targeting older people and more vulnerable people with doorstep selling, online and cold calls.
Care & Repair Cymru, a Wales Against Scams Partnership member, reported various instances of spray foam scams.
One client, who has sight and hearing loss, paid more than £4,000 for spray foam loft insulation sold by a doorstep trader.
Another older client bought spray foam for loft insulation for £3,500. They later found they were unable to sell their house as a result and paid £2,000 to remove the foam before the house could be put back on the market.
One dodgy trader also claimed that a UK government grant would cover the majority of the work, and that the client would only have to pay £2,500 for installation.
Free insulation survey scam
Nest is the Welsh government's free home energy efficiency scheme. It reported receiving multiple calls from a caller claiming to represent an 'Energy Hub' and offering free insulation surveys.
The caller mentioned research from the British Lung Foundation, which became Asthma + Lung UK in 2020, while making their sales pitch.
Asthma + Lung UK have previously warned of these cold call scams. The charity has made it clear that it doesn't endorse any insulation products.
5 signs of a doorstep scam
Doorstep scammers are people who show up at your front door out of the blue, with the intention of either tricking you out of money or gaining access to your home. It can be difficult to tell the difference between a genuine doorstep seller and a scammer. Scammers will often try to sweet talk you to persuade you into signing a contract or buying something you don’t want or need.
5 signs that a trader may be dodgy include:
- They are vague about their address.
- They regularly change their company name and phone numbers.
- They want you to pay in cash.
- They don’t have the correct identification or certification.
- They don’t give you your cancellation rights and important information is missing from their invoices.
To find a reputable trader, you could choose a trader recommended by local family or friends or approval schemes, such as Which? Trusted Traders.
- Read more: How to complain about a doorstep seller
Reporting dodgy sellers
If you feel like you’re in danger at any point, you should call the police on 999 or on the non-emergency number 101.
You can report dodgy salespeople to Citizens Advice who can pass complaints to your local Trading Standards authority).
Report nuisance sales calls to the Information Commissioner Office (ICO), which has the power to fine companies and scam or spam texts to your mobile phone provider by forwarding the message to 7726.
If you've been scammed out of any money, contact your bank immediately and report the scam to Action Fraud or call the police on 101 if you’re in Scotland.
