Scam awareness month urges caution with 'rogue doorstep callers'

Co Kildare homeowners are being urged to be aware of 'rogue doorstep callers'.

OFTEC has joined forces with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau campaign as an official

partner to help alert householders to the potential fraud and over-pricing tricks

carried out by some unscrupulous callers.

The organisation recommends that when answering your door to any unexpected

caller, to always take precautions and ‘Look for the Badge’ to prove the caller’s

professional credentials.

David Blevings, OFTEC Ireland Manager said: “We are delighted to be a

Scam Awareness Month partner and raise awareness of the concerning levels for

scams which are carried out on people in their own homes."

There are  approximately 600,000 domestic consumers using oil as their main heating

source.

Mr Blevings said:“We run a competent person registration service which certifies technicians and

provides them with identity badges with the OFTEC logo on it, to prove the

technicians’ certification and membership. It’s always important to be confident that

any professional who comes to your door is who they say they are and have all the

statutory training, accreditation and registration to do the job in your home safely and

fairly priced.”

OFTEC is reminding its registered technicians throughout the month of July to

explain to their customers about their professional certification and why it was

important to ask to see their technicians’ ID badge.

David Blevings stressed that as 85% of doorstep scams are carried out against

people aged over 65 (according to National Trading Standards), it was

recommended for elderly householders and their carers to known that OFTEC

registered heating installers are competent to do the job.

He said:“Our registered members in Ireland are all extremely professional and will do a safe

and sound job of fixing, repairing, moving or installing heating systems.”