For some traders, the deposit is the whole job.
The line is “We’re in your area today, but we need the deposit now.” Plenty of honest trades take deposits. A deposit today, for work you hadn’t heard of an hour ago, is the problem.
R. Dunn Roofing & Driveways
Mob 07700 900142
No. 0417
Saw your ridge from the road, loose & letting water in.
- Strip and re-bed ridge tiles£2,400
- Treat timbers£950
- Gutter clearFREE TODAY
- Total, cash price£3,350
Only in your area today. Price good till we leave.
Half now for materials, £1,675.
Cash, or transfer to Mr R Dunn personal a/c.
Signed, and that’s all it says.
Read the quote before he’s off the step.
- 1
A problem he found for you
The FTC says scammers may knock and say they’re in the area. Ask someone else to look before you believe a diagnosis from the road.
- 2
A mobile number and nothing else
The FTC says a contract should show the contractor’s name, address, phone number and licence number. If there’s no address, ask for one.
- 3
A price with a deadline
A real roof will still be there next week. The FTC lists pressure for an immediate decision as a warning sign.
- 4
Half up front, today
A deposit alone isn’t a scam. The size and speed are what to question. Some US states limit down payments, so check your local rules.
- 5
Cash or a personal account
Cornwall Trading Standards says these traders typically work for cash only. Scottish council guidance is blunter: once you’ve paid, they have the money and you don’t.
- 6
No word about your right to cancel
In the UK and US, a contract made at your home should come with a written notice of it. See the rules below.
A £180 job that grows while you watch.
Each step looks reasonable from the one before it. The running total is an invented example.
£180
A knock at the door
A cheap fix for a problem you didn’t know about. The FTC describes traders who are “in the area” or have materials left over.
£1,580
“It’s worse than we thought”
He’s been on the roof and you haven’t. The price moves while he’s up there.
£3,350
A trip to the bank
Pressure for an immediate decision, then cash or a transfer. Councils warn never to go to the bank with a trader.
£3,350 paid
A phone that rings out
Some of the work gets done, or none of it. There’s no address to go to, and you have the bill.
Nothing has to be decided on the doorstep.
Say no, and shut the door.
If there’s a real problem, it will still be there when someone you chose comes to look.
Get a second quote from a trader you found.
In the UK, TrustMark is a government-endorsed scheme for finding tradespeople. In the US, confirm a licence with your state or county and ask for proof of insurance.
TrustMark (UK)Get the job in writing, with no blanks.
The FTC’s list: name, address, phone, licence number, estimated start and finish dates, and any spoken promises written in.
FTC contract advicePay as the work is done.
Don’t pay the full amount up front, and keep the final payment until you’re satisfied. Pay by a method that leaves a record.
Never let them drive you to the bank.
If someone won’t leave or is threatening you, call the police. In the UK, use 999 in an emergency and 101 otherwise.
Your right to change your mind.
United Kingdom
- For most contracts made at home over £42, you get 14 days to cancel a service, counted from the day you agreed. New builds and major conversions are excluded.Regulation 30
- No cancellation notice? The period can extend by up to 12 months, and if you cancel you don’t pay for work done during it.Regulation 36
- Urgent repairs you specifically asked for are excluded. Extra work sold during that visit isn’t.Regulation 28
United States
- The FTC’s Cooling-Off Rule covers home sales of $25 or more: you can cancel until midnight of the third business day. Saturdays count.FTC Cooling-Off Rule
- It excludes emergency repairs and repairs you requested, though other items bought during that visit are covered.
Australia
- After an unsolicited sale you generally get 10 business days to cancel, and the ACCC says the supplier can’t provide services or accept payment in that time.ACCC sales practices guide
Paid the deposit? Cancel in writing today.
Cancel, and keep proof
Inside a cooling-off period, send the cancellation in writing and keep a copy. In the US, use certified mail with a return receipt.
Report the trader
UK: call Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133, which passes reports to Trading Standards. In Scotland, use Consumer Advice Scotland.
Call your bank
Paid by card, ask about a dispute. Paid by transfer, ask for a recall and report it as a scam today.
Sources and review
- Reviewed
- 2 November 2026
- Review due
- 2 May 2027
- Owner
- Scam Finder
General guidance, not legal or financial advice. Rules depend on your country, provider and payment. This guide names UK, US and Australian rules where it can. Elsewhere, check with your national consumer or fraud authority. Example companies, people and figures are invented.