No password, no entry
Rogue traders go for older people, and they go for the jobs our helpers do: gutters, roofs, driveways. The doorstep check makes it simple to tell the right person from the wrong one.
Trading Standards has found victims of doorstep crime lose thousands. Kent reported an average of £15,700 per victim in 2024. Most never report it.
Three parts, all simple
- A password you set togetherPick a word or two your parent will remember: the dog's name and a colour, say. We store it encrypted. The booked helper can only see it in their own account, from two hours before the visit until it ends.
- A fridge card with faces on itPrint it from your home page. It shows a photo and first name for everyone who is allowed in, your name and number, and what to do if anything feels wrong. It works with no phone at all.
- A plain text on the morning (members)"Today at 10:00, Sam is coming for gardening." That is all it says. It confirms what your parent already expects. It is never the proof: the password is.
Why the text isn't the proof
Text messages can be faked to look like they come from anyone, and Ofcom has chosen not to stop that. So our texts never ask your parent to do anything, never contain a link and never contain a phone number. If a message ever says "click here" or "call this number", it isn't us.
The password is what matters, and only the helper you booked can get it. Utility companies have used the same idea for years. We have just made it work for the gardener.
If something feels wrong
- Keep the door shut, or on the chain.
- Ring the number on the fridge card. Never a number the person at the door gives you.
- If you feel threatened, call 999.