People who prey on the elderly

NOWSE

I have just got off the phone from my mother having come close to bursting a blood vessel as a result of what she told me.
Earlier in the week she was in her front garden when a man in a van stopped & offered to jet blast her drive and paths. I would estimate that I could do the job in 3 hours, four at the most. She had agreed a price of £250 (having negotiated down from £320!). I went ballistic and told her to cancel. I phoned her back to make sure that she'd cancelled and she says that she has.
When I asked her if she'd not seen the "rogue trader" type programmes she said that she had but that this guy hadn't knocked on her door! (he didn't need to as she was already outside).
My mum and dad are both in their late eighties. I'm pleased that they can continue to live independently but worry after incidents like this.

Mankysteve

There does need to be stricter plenty for people who pry on vulnerable people. You could buy a very nice pressure washer for that money and be able to do the drive and path every day for a pittance.

trumpton

Nowse, I am so glad that your parents cancelled. This type of scam is absolutely epidemic. The next stage is often that they demand more money or find an increasing list of 'urgent' jobs that need doing.

Sometimes the law catches up with these people, but most often they get away with it.

There was a case recently which I couldn't find, but these two dodgy builders who preyed on the elderly came up:

http://www.kentnews.co.uk/kent-news/Millionnaire-con-men-to-be-jailed-next-month-newsinkent36538.aspx?news=local

http://www.uxbridgegazette.co.uk/west-london-news/local-uxbridge-news/2010/04/22/rogue-builders-jailed-for-conning-elderly-victims-113046-26298774/

Unfortunately they won't get the sentences they deserve.

NGlady

It is horrible when people pry on the elderly. I am always extra concious when dealing with the elderly in my job (Rightly or wrongly) making sure they understand everything and giving them more than enough opportunity to say no, I would rather loose the sale than have somebody have this opinion on the company (and me especially)

anon_ymous

What rogue traders do not understand is that people come back to you if you give them a good service, and if you are straight up and honest with the customers.. This type of press would only mean that lots of people would not go to them

ie: some relatives of mine are plumbers/electricians. They charge quite an expensive rate, but they get the job done professionally and are not cowboys(they "covered" our plumbing from the central heating for £80!(and thats family rates), but it was a really well done job). People only come back to them, because they know that they are good people, and they've been going 15 or so years now

With the rogue traders, they only last a couple of years before they have to move town and scam some other people, once everyones clicked on

Though, I speak from experience and we do live in a relatively small town