Trading Standards issue warning to Aberdeenshire residents over rogue roofing firms

Aberdeenshire Council’s Trading Standards prevention and intervention team is increasing its efforts to keep the region’s residents safe from rogue traders.

The service has launched the ‘Protecting our Community’ initiative to improve business standards in the region and shield consumers from dishonest or rogue traders. 

While Aberdeenshire boasts many reliable, well-established and trusted businesses, rogue traders are still known to operate in many areas, bringing misery and costly repair bills to unlucky households. 

The new commitment focuses on both supporting legitimate businesses and empowering consumers to make safe, informed choices.

The initiative will begin with a focus on the roofing sector which has seen a sharp rise in complaints, especially after Storm Arwen. In just one year, complaints more than doubled, reaching 93 in 2024 and resulting in significant financial losses.

‘Protecting our Community’ aims to reduce this harm and Trading Standards will apply the same model to other sectors which present problems. Additionally, consumers can request various prevention tools - such as doorbell cameras, call blockers, no cold calling stickers and information on the Aberdeenshire Trusted Trader scheme to help protect themselves at home.

To achieve this, Trading Standards will actively engage with local businesses, with officers checking business addresses and contact details, reviewing paperwork and assessing whether companies are following the law. This hands-on approach helps ensure transparency and encourages businesses to meet proper legal and ethical standards.

Businesses which refuse to cooperate, use false or unverified information or which fail to resolve legal breaches will be listed in a ‘Directory of Non-compliant Businesses’. This directory will be made available to the public, giving consumers clear, accessible information to help them avoid potential risks when choosing who to hire or buy from.

Senior Trading Standards officer Vanessa Wilson explains: “Doorstep callers tend to target elderly and vulnerable residents, but what we’re seeing increasingly is that everyone can be susceptible to these rogue traders. Those offering roofing services in particular are using social media, professional-looking websites and some trader platforms to gain work.

"Common tactics used include offering cheap or fast roofing repairs or maintenance – particularly after winter weather and storms – suggesting they have seen problems such as missing or damaged roof tiles or blocked gutters. In addition to these tactics, residents are then often coerced into paying money upfront for repairs that aren’t even required, sometimes for work never undertaken or in many cases starting work within the cooling off period without authorisation.”

Last year, following media reports of rogue roofing businesses operating across Aberdeenshire, Trading Standards opened investigations and spoke with several residents who spoke of being duped into costly repair work being undertaken. 

Chair of Aberdeenshire Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, Cllr Alan Turner says: “While we have hundreds of dedicated traders working tirelessly and honestly across the region, we have to acknowledge that rogue doorstep trading does remain a serious issue. Our Trading Standards team continues to work hard to safeguard our communities from cold-callers and doorstep crime and strives to promote good, reliable services within the local business sector. I very much hope that residents take heed of our advice and I would encourage them to take full advantage of the Aberdeenshire Trusted Trader initiative which demonstrates to customers that these businesses have been vetted and are a trustworthy operator.”

If you suspect someone of being a rogue trader - or find yourself confronted by uninvited doorstep sellers - contact our Trading Standards team via email at trading.standards@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or call 01467 537222.

Residents can also enjoy peace of mind when it comes to seeking out reputable services by visiting the Aberdeenshire Trusted Trader scheme at https://www.trustedtrader.scot/Aberdeenshire/