The Isle of Man’s Office of Fair Trading is warning people to be wary of workmen calling at their homes without an appointment.

Staff say they are getting complaints about roofers who knock on doors and offer to repair missing slates or other roof damage immediately.

But the quality of the work is poor and the OFT says the roofers aren’t local and use vehicles with United Kingdom registration plates, making it difficult to resolve problems.

Chief Trading Standards Officer John Peet says there are fairly simple ways to avoid being ripped off:

Nobody should ever agree to anything without knowing exactly what they expect for their money, and written quotations or statements of the exact costs should always be obtained.

It's vital to find out who you are dealing with, get details of the company or individuals but don’t give details such as your bank account number, PIN number or credit card details until you’re happy they are legitimate.

Don’t make payments in advance, either for material or other costs, and get quotes from other traders before you make any commitment.

If you’re in any doubt, you can call the OFT on 686500.