The media repeatedly warn about fake tradespeople wearing work clothes that look genuine. The aim of these doorstep fraudsters is usually to steal valuables, cash and jewellery. They also often try to get you to sign up for a supposed bargain on spontaneous trade services. The bargain then turns out to be a rip-off: hugely inflated prices are charged and work that has been started is never finished. Here we show you what to look out for so that you do not end up with the wrong tradespeople and fall into a trap.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, you might think that dubious doorstep selling has declined. But appearances are deceptive. In 2021, too, numerous households were confronted by fake tradespeople right at their front door. The scam often seems to follow the same pattern: two tradesmen in suitable work clothes ring the doorbell and claim they need to check the heating or water pipes, for example. But this is just a pretext to get into your flat or house. 

Watch out! As a rule, tradespeople announce their visit in advance, either by phone or, more often, in writing. An appointment is usually agreed so that someone can be there at the specified time. No reputable tradesperson will simply turn up at your home in the hope that someone is in. Heating inspections in apartment buildings, for example, are also announced in advance in writing by the property management company.

Stay alert

So stay alert, and certainly do not let anyone into your flat or house if you do not know them. Do not let anyone in who has not announced their visit either. If you feel surprised or caught off guard, ask the supposed tradesperson to wait outside the door for a moment. Then close the door and, if necessary, contact the police.

If you are unsure, ask the strangers to come back at another time when you have another trusted person with you. It is best not to open the door straight away; instead, look out of the window and ask who wants something from you.

An example from the canton of Aargau: a homeowner was visited twice by fake tradespeople within a few weeks. The first time, a man in painter’s clothes was suddenly standing in the garden, offering to have the facade professionally cleaned. In moments like this you feel caught off guard and do not immediately know what to say. The owner clearly declined and asked the man to leave. When someone rang the doorbell again a few weeks later, he threatened to call the police, and he has not been bothered since.

If necessary, threaten to call the police, or actually call them

These tradespeople usually come in pairs. The aim is for one of them to distract you while the other looks for valuables and steals from you. Because you cannot know exactly what these “fake” tradespeople are up to, we advise you either to contact the police directly on 117 or to threaten to call the police. This is often enough to send the fake tradespeople packing.

Do not do business on your doorstep

The men disguised as tradespeople usually target vulnerable, elderly, single and very trusting people for their doorstep deals. Older people are generally at home during the day and are therefore, unfortunately, easy victims for fraudsters. They will offer you all kinds of work and come up with every argument as to why they are especially good. From cleaning or painting facades and cleaning blinds to paving work, these fake tradespeople claim they can do it all. The work they start is never finished, the fake tradespeople often demand extortionate prices, and in the end you can expect the worst kind of botched job. Fake tradespeople also usually insist on cash payment, and their receipts are worthless and forged.

Tip: get a quote, even for smaller jobs

No matter how small the job, always get a quote (Offerte). Reputable tradespeople will provide you with a quote even for smaller jobs. A quote tells you what work will be done and gives a detailed breakdown of the expected costs. Feel free to compare several offers. With umbaumanager.ch, you receive up to 3 qualified quotes and make the decision yourself. 

Choose local tradespeople instead – with umbaumanager.ch, you have nothing to worry about

Is your facade due for renovation, or does your living space need a fresh coat of paint? Whatever project you want to carry out, we can only advise you to go local. At umbaumanager.ch, your house renovation company, we have a regional network of tradespeople and can assure you that you will not be ripped off with us. We know all our partner tradespeople personally, and all of these businesses have already completed projects with us. Our tradespeople undergo several checks before they are accepted into our regional network. This is how we ensure quality.

What’s more, with umbaumanager.ch you are not on your own. We handle the entire process, from preparing quotes and planning through to the final acceptance of the completed work. As your competent point of contact, we are always there for you. We have made it our mission to manage the whole process digitally and make it as simple as possible for everyone involved. You also get full transparency: as the client, you have your own login to our platform where you can see all completed and outstanding work and follow it online. This is also what sets us apart from other renovation companies. We connect you, the client, with our tradespeople, and if you wish, you can follow the progress of your project online even when you are not there.

Summary and tips for avoiding dubious tradespeople

• Do not let yourself be rushed or put under pressure
• Avoid letting tradespeople into your flat or house if you did not order them yourself or if they did not announce their visit in advance
• Get quotes even for small jobs and check that they contain the legally required details: if necessary, verify the company name and UID number (Swiss business identification number) in the UID register (uid.admin.ch)
• Do not sign anything on the doorstep, especially if you have not understood everything
• Ask for an invoice and check whether all the work listed has actually been carried out as stated
• Call the police on 117 if you are threatened, or draw your neighbours’ attention
• For any trade work, choose local tradespeople and take your time when selecting them