Estate agent greedy for his commission - 92 year old mother

dirty_magic

We had a similar thing happen with my nan, she signed up for an expensive TV package from a telephone cold call despite being signed up to the TPS. Cold calling is disgusting when it's done to vulnerable people, it should be more regulated.

Also, it is possible to get POA with a dementia diagnosis, we did it. We put it off for a while thinking we wouldn't be able to do it, but then my nan was taken very ill with a bad infection and my mom had a chat with the doctor who said it was still possible because she still has capacity. We got it through with no issues at all.

moneyistooshorttomention

G_M wrote: »

You have not answered the question: Did she sign more, or less, than 14 days ago?

If you are still within the 14 days, ignore their claim that she waived her rights, and get a letter back to them, from her, saying she is cancelling within the 14 days.

And don't forget the tea and cakes: the ideal solution to this is to reach a reasonable and amicable solution, not a legalistic one unless you have to.

Agreed:T

With a fallback back-up position up your sleeve, if need be, (ie if they won't listen to reason) of heading to the local newspaper with a story about this EA for them - and I can certainly think of at least one national newspaper that might well run a story like this. I wouldnt be mentioning this to the EA except in extremis. But if it came to an "in extremis" situation then I'd let that tactic loose and start contacting the papers.

As for them saying there is no 14 day "cooling off" period - I think they'll find the law trumps any attempt on their part to say that. Even things down in writing (and not illegal) can be got round if they are unreasonable (ie by making it very plain to the manager in the firm concerned that it is unreasonable - voice of experience time from having had to put in a compensation claim by the removal firm I last used when their workers stole some of my property and I won that.).

Bogalot

copperjar wrote: »

Trading standards would definitely be interested in this and have powers to investigate if necessary. Number will be available through your mums local council

If this is a one off TS won't do anything. They're overloaded with work and underfunded, they don't have the resources to look into individual cases. Nonetheless it should be reported, OP can contact the Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06, they collate any patterns of behaviour and pass to TS where appropriate.

copperjar

AnotherJoe wrote: »

Since the best part of a million pounds is involved, why dont you take a day off work and go see your mum instead of lumbering her neighbours with this? Or even go tomorrow and get it all done?

After that you need to get a PoA or otherwise some power over her affairs, which will be very difficult and costly if your mum has been diagnosed with dementia already.

I dont think you've taken on board the consequences of this condition, you need to take some action to fix the underlying situation, such as moving her closer to you or into a home because whats to stop her trying to sell it again the day after you leave, or doing some other crazy things?

Oh please!! Someone has mild dementia (or even just a bit of forgetfulness) and you are advocating she is moved into a home?! I despair. She has a home and the main thing is for Susie to have a chat with her and find out whether she wants to remain living in it, perhaps increasing the help she already gets, or wants to downsize or if SHE wants to live somewhere with more help on site. Nobody has to move into a home anymore just because they get old and may start having memory issues etc. What an awful way to view people in old age

AnotherJoe

copperjar wrote: »

Oh please!! Someone has mild dementia (or even just a bit of forgetfulness) and you are advocating she is moved into a home?! I despair. She has a home and the main thing is for Susie to have a chat with her and find out whether she wants to remain living in it, perhaps increasing the help she already gets, or wants to downsize or if SHE wants to live somewhere with more help on site. Nobody has to move into a home anymore just because they get old and may start having memory issues etc. What an awful way to view people in old age

People with " a bit of mild forgetfulness" (and the OP called it dementia) don't agree to sell,their house on a whim when they don't want to.

Denial is not a river in Egypt

copperjar

AnotherJoe wrote: »

People with " a bit of mild forgetfulness" (and the OP called it dementia) don't agree to sell,their house on a whim when they don't want to.

Denial is not a river in Egypt

Doesn't mean the only option is a care home!

BritishBibliophile

Susieee, another thing to consider is to speak to a national charity like Age UK or Help the Aged, or a dementia charity such as Alzheimers UK. A phonecall with them will get you a lot of answers very quickly, and they'll be able to talk you through the different options for dealing with these kinds of things, they will get a lot of people anxious about a vulnerable loved one being scammed, and they can talk you through the routes to take to get this resolved.

I also agree with the calls about getting POA!

dirty_magic

AnotherJoe wrote: »

People with " a bit of mild forgetfulness" (and the OP called it dementia) don't agree to sell,their house on a whim when they don't want to.

Denial is not a river in Egypt

Dementia is different for everyone that it affects, there are different types and it progresses at different rates. This lady could be perfectly capable of living on a day to day basis and still be easily influenced by others.

As long as she's capable of getting herself up, dressed and fed and she isn't wandering she doesn't need to be shipped off to a care home, even if she needs a little help with these things. There are lots of things that can be done now to help people with mild dementia to stay at home.

xylophone

Doesn't mean the only option is a care home!

No, it is not the only option but it may be the most workable solution.
If a person is so forgetful as to be a danger to himself and others (fire risk is one possibility), then he needs a carer to be around at all times.

If the person refuses to live with other family members or to have live in carers ( and reliable live in carers are not that easy to find even if acceptable to the person), then what is to be done?

And a person who is so vulnerable that he doesn't understand that he has agreed to sell his house ( or indeed other property) needs protection from unscrupulous predators.

elsien

xylophone wrote: »

If a person is so forgetful as to be a danger to himself and others (fire risk is one possibility), then he needs a carer to be around at all times.

If the person refuses to live with other family members or to have live in carers ( and reliable live in carers are not that easy to find even if acceptable to the person), then what is to be done?

.

Assistive technology which can alert if someone leaves their home or falls over.
Providing meals on wheels or carers coming in to support at mealtimes so the person doesn't have to cook.
Warden controlled or extra care housing.

There are any number of lesser restrictive options to plonking someone in a care home which many people would prefer to be the last resort, not the first.