How to spot a cowboy spray foam removal company
In June 2025 a spray foam removal company director was jailed for six and a half years. The HomeOwners Alliance has openly warned about rogue operators in this trade. Here's how to spot a cowboy before you sign anything.
Sign 1: Quotes on the phone without surveying
A legitimate quote comes after a free survey. Anyone quoting a fixed price over the phone, sight unseen, is either undercutting deliberately to win the booking (then renegotiating once on site) or not bothering to assess the work properly. Walk away.
Sign 2: Vague or no paperwork pack
Ask exactly what documentation you'll receive on completion. The legitimate answer is specific: photo report, written timber assessment, ventilation confirmation, signed completion certificate, waste transfer note, 12-month workmanship guarantee. Vague answers ('we'll provide a certificate') mean the certificate won't satisfy the lender.
Sign 3: No registered company / VAT number
A legitimate trade business is VAT-registered with a Companies House registration. You can verify both on Companies House (find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk) in 30 seconds. If they're not registered, the paperwork won't satisfy the lender — and there's no legal entity to chase if anything goes wrong.
Sign 4: No public liability insurance documentation
Reputable contractors carry public liability cover (£2 million is the trade standard). Ask for a copy of the certificate before any work starts. If they hesitate or claim it's 'with the office', they probably don't have it.
Sign 5: High-pressure sales tactics
'Sign today and get a discount.' 'Price goes up tomorrow.' 'We can start on Monday but only if you commit now.' These are scripts, not surveys. A legitimate quote is valid for 30 days. Take your time, talk to your broker, decide.
Sign 6: Cash-only or large up-front payment
Standard payment terms in this trade are 50% deposit on signing and 50% on completion, paid by bank transfer. Anyone demanding 100% up-front, cash-only, or refusing card payment is a flag. You have no recourse with cash if the work isn't done properly.
Sign 7: No fixed business address
A real trade business has a real address. A virtual office, a PO box, or refusing to give an address are all flags. You should be able to verify they exist as a company, where they operate from, and how to reach them after the job is done.
What to do if you've already been scammed
Report to Trading Standards via Citizens Advice (0808 223 1133). If you paid by credit card, raise a Section 75 claim with your card provider. If a substantial sum is involved (£100-30k), Action Fraud should also be informed (actionfraud.police.uk).
Increasingly, councils and the Property Care Association are coordinating to publicly track rogue operators in this trade — your report contributes to that record.
Call 07375 937930.
Free survey within forty-eight hours across West Yorkshire.