Homeowners are being warned not to employ pushy door-to-door patio cleaners.
Trading Standards officers, from Leicestershire County Council, have urged people not to accept cheap deals on driveway and patio jet washes from doorstep salesmen.
They have received nine complaints since February in the Melton and Loughborough areas, where customers have paid between £80 and £5,500 for shoddy work.
David Bull, head of the county Trading Standards Service, said: "Residents should always be extremely wary of traders who cold call door-to-door.
"Our advice is to never agree to any work without getting at least three written quotes from a number of well known or local traders."
Mr Bull offered the following tips on dealing with doorstep traders:
Do not agree to have any work carried out without getting written quotations from other traders.
Say you aren't interested and don't let then into your home.
Rogue traders often give false names and addresses, so if you can, try to make checks about any trader you are thinking of employing.
If you receive information through your door advertising home improvement or other services, think carefully before you respond, as glossy, professional leaflets can be used by rogue traders to give the impression they are genuine businesses.
To report any rogue traders, e-mail:
telltradingstandards @leics.gov.uk
