Vitamin hard-sell to elderly relative

Socross123

My Father-in-law has had payments to the value of £1135.65 in the last 5 months from his bank.
Last year similar amounts were being paid out. These eased off after my husband, who happened to be present when a company called, asked them to stop contacting snd remove all details of his father from their database.

The payments are to companies Health Solutions, Source of Nature & Greenwood Group. All selling vitamin type items.

He probably has bought some vitamins from one of these in the past but they all are under one umbrella company and his details have been shared.
 He will be easily persuaded that they know what they're talking about and whats best for him. 
He is 93 years old, lives alone in a council flat & has mental health issues. In Jan I filled & disposed of a full black bin liner of pots of in & out of date vitamins.

Can anyone advise on where to go with this. 

FlorayG

Does anyone have POA for him? If not and he's compos mentis that would be the best thing to get him to do. Without that you can't really legally be involved in how he spends his money and the companies are within their rights to refuse to speak with you

Socross123

Yes my husband has POA

Socross123

My point is that the callers are convincing him to purchase. He takes himself to Holland & Barrett for anything he actually needs, so its the hard sell phone calls that are the real problem here I think

born_again

Socross123 said:

My point is that the callers are convincing him to purchase. He takes himself to Holland & Barrett for anything he actually needs, so its the hard sell phone calls that are the real problem here I think

One of the call screening devices & block the number.

https://www.bt.com/help/security/how-can-i-stop-nuisance-or-scam-calls-

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/unwanted-calls-and-messages/phone-company-services-that-can-help-tackle-nuisance-calls/

Tell him not to answer the phone, unless you recognises the number.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/phone-internet-downloads-or-tv/stop-getting-nuisance-calls-and-texts/

Aylesbury_Duck

As above, call screening and blocking is the way forward here.

badmemory

He may find it quite hard not to answer the phone.  Those of us who are somewhat older come from a time when if the phone rang it was fairly important.  It is a hard habit to get out of & may cause him to worry if he doesn't answer.  When I first started to get calls like these I used to ask them to put it in writing as they must have my address, could you encourage him to do that & not give his address because after all they must have it.  I know it is hard to imagine but he was probably well inito his 20s or even 30s before he had a phone at home.  It makes our attitudes different but not impossible to change.

OutdoorQueen

Please report to trading standards via the Citizens Advice Consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133. Mention the details you’ve included in your opening post,

They will be able to advise you about the different options and support available.   Some areas have Truecall call blocking units that are loaned out to older or more vulnerable residents.   It can vary between areas. 

Socross123

Thank you all for your help. Ive registered the phone numbers for him now