Scam alert: ‘British Lung Foundation’ loft insulation cold calls
Scam insulation companies claiming to be endorsed by ‘the British Lung Foundation charity’ are cold-calling households, selling unnecessary and potentially dangerous loft insulation.
These fraudsters appear to be targeting elderly and vulnerable homeowners who might be worried about the rising costs of heating over the coming winter.
Read on to find out how the scam works and how to avoid it.
Sign up for scam alerts
Our emails will alert you to scams doing the rounds, and provide practical advice to keep you one step ahead of fraudsters.
Sign up for scam alerts
Watch out for 'the British Lung Foundation' cold calls
Which? has had reports about companies, calling themselves ‘UK Energy Hub’ and ‘UK Eco Home Services’, pressuring homeowners over the phone to upgrade their loft insulation to a different type that they claim is safer and more efficient.
The scammers claim that their insulation products are endorsed by ‘the British Lung Foundation charity’ to add credibility to the con. But the British Lung Foundation no longer exists; it merged with another charity, Asthma UK, in 2020 to become Asthma and Lung UK.
Fraudsters told one victim that the British Lung Foundation recommends urgently replacing the fibreglass insulation currently installed in her loft because a 'recent study' carried out by the charity found it’s ‘extremely harmful’ to lung health. There is no evidence that these health risks exist.
The scammers also told the victim that a spray foam product, that they'd use to replace the existing insulation, prevents damp and mould, which can also affect lung health. But if not installed properly, foam insulation can actually cause damp problems.
Asthma and Lung UK says it doesn't endorse any insulation products and has never suggested that any loft insulation material is unsafe.
- Read more: how to report a scam
Money and health worries exploited
The scam takes advantage of people’s worries about the rising costs of heating their homes over the coming winter.
Loft insulation can help keep homes warmer more efficiently, saving on energy bills.
Some people who’ve received calls recently have told us they were repeatedly pressured to get the work completed as soon as possible, before the winter, to benefit from reduced heating bills.
The fraudsters seem to be targeting elderly and vulnerable homeowners who may not be physically able to check their loft insulation or check any work has been done properly.
- Find out more: how to get your money back after a scam
Replacement insulation not needed
We heard from another victim, aged 91, who agreed to a loft survey after receiving a phone call that falsely claimed her house had been identified by the council as having a dangerous type of insulation.
The contractor that carried out the survey quoted £4,000 to insulate the loft of her one-bedroom bungalow with spray foam insulation.
The victim was unable to afford the work, but was concerned about the condition of her loft. She had also been told the same false warning from the made-up lung charity.
Thankfully, she got a second opinion and was told that her loft insulation was fine, and that no work was needed. She was also told that spray foam insulation was probably not suitable for her loft space.
Some types of spray foam insulation can cause damp problems or be a fire risk if not properly installed, or when cheaper products are used.
This isn't the first time we've heard about these types of dodgy business practices. Which? has previously reported on insulation companies involved in cold-call and doorstep selling that have installed poor quality insulation that doesn't comply with building safety regulations.
- Read more: spray foam insulation explained
Avoid loft insulation scams
You shouldn’t feel hassled or pressured to have new loft insulation, or any work, carried out on your home. These days, reputable firms don’t need to cold-call potential customers to get business, so getting a sales call you didn’t ask for is always a red flag.
- Take time to think about it. If you’re called or approached by a trader offering loft insulation, you can tell them you need time to think about it first. This gives you a chance to find out if you really need the work done, and further research different options that might be best for your home.
- Find out more about the company or trader. Check the company or trader offering the work online. Its website, social media posts and customer reviews can help you decide if they’re a legitimate business. If it doesn’t have a website or contact information, or have bad or few reviews, it may be best to avoid.
- Get a second opinion. If you’re concerned about the work you’re being sold, or not sure if you’re getting a good price, find another company that can give you another quote.
- Check with trusted family or friends. Before you have any work done to your home, ask family and friends for their opinion. They may be able to help you find out more about the repairs needed, and may be able to help you spot anything that doesn't seem right.
- No should mean no. Companies shouldn’t keep calling you if you’ve told them you’re not interested. Tell them you no longer want to be contacted and ask them to remove your details from their marketing or sales lists. If they don’t do this, they’re breaking the law.
- Sign up to the Telephone Preference Service (TPS). It opts your phone number out of sales and marketing calls so companies shouldn’t cold call you.
- Find out more: how to find a reputable trader
Report rogue traders
If you’ve been scammed by a loft insulation firm – or by any other trader – report it to Trading Standards and Action Fraud.
You can also report nuisance calls to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). Companies shouldn't contact you by phone if you haven’t given them permission to. The ICO can take action to stop persistent cold callers.
If you’ve heard from nuisance callers or doorstep sellers selling dodgy loft insulation, you can also tell us about it using our scam sharer tool.
