Are doorstep traders becoming a serious problem?

Or just don’t answer the door

I get them calling every few weeks, it's my own fault though as I occasionally engage certain ones for hedge trimming. Once per year max and I'd never let a cold caller go near the roof.

This started with my parents (same house). Once you engage them once, they will keep coming back. They'll try to convince you that the job they did 6 months ago will need to be done again and if you agree, they'll be back 3 months after that and so on. And naturally they'll do you a good deal because they're "in the area".

A few years ago my elderly mother was plagued with particularly dodgy individuals and I did go to the Gardai about it. I showed them various flyers with fake addresses and claims to be "fully insured" and having waste collection permits. No interest from the Gardai and actually I got an insinuation that I was racist for informing them. Driving around in Transit vans targetting the elderly for cold calls and doing shoddy work for extortionate pricing is not a crime. Anyhow, I reported them anonymously to Revenue giving scans of flyers and van reg numbers etc. Probably didn't do a scrap of good however the calling seemed to reduce after that.

I find asking them for a landline phone number gets rid of them.

They are pests! Had some around on Friday, UK registered van. I didn't answer the door as I was working and wasn't expecting anyone. They come around a few times a year, different guys every time.

It's almost comical how their sales pitch evolves with time and to suit the situation. The latest one for garden maintenance is using Ash Dieback to scare people. I had one "fully insured tree surgeon with 25 years' experience" advise me to take out an Ash tree on my property as it had the disease and was dangerous. Well actually it's a Sycamore tree.

Imagine being an elderly person who is living independently and happily at home but has the very early signs of cognitive impairment that affects their judgement. These callers can spot that better than any doctor.

When my mother was living independently and subjected to constant cold calling (she was sensible enough to usually say No) I mentioned this to a few people. Unbelievably, one stupid bint suggested that my mother should go into a nursing home because of this.

Impressive that the business card or flyer has a long list of potential service and not one name.

There does not seem to be any reliable website for traders .

There's been a crackdown by the courts on fraudulent injury claims especially slips and trips.

Those who were very prevalent in this area have realised a major income stream is gone, hence a bigger push in driveways and roofing.