aggresive telesales issue
Discussion
My 85 yr old father in law is being targeted by doorsteppers and telesales people selling him things he either doesn't need and sometimes at massively over cost. We've put a call bar on his phone, changed his number and i've fitted a 24 hr cctv system.
Two or three years ago, he would have just brushed these people off but he now has dementia and seems very vulnerable to persuasion from these aggressive sales companies.
The most recent is a company signing him up for a protection plan for sky +, he's just paid the renewal for the second year despite the fact that he's never had sky. I've spoken to the company and they've agreed to cancel his policy but i would like to try and get last yr's premium also, based on the fact, that they didn't do any background checks to see if he had sky or not, or acted disingenuously when they sold him the policy.
I am writing to them to ask for a refund and any information on the data house they used to get his details or phone records.
Is there anything else i can do to get recompense and to stop him being targeted.
To be honest i'm at my wit's end, this is about the 4th or 5th time this has happened.
Mick
Two or three years ago, he would have just brushed these people off but he now has dementia and seems very vulnerable to persuasion from these aggressive sales companies.
The most recent is a company signing him up for a protection plan for sky +, he's just paid the renewal for the second year despite the fact that he's never had sky. I've spoken to the company and they've agreed to cancel his policy but i would like to try and get last yr's premium also, based on the fact, that they didn't do any background checks to see if he had sky or not, or acted disingenuously when they sold him the policy.
I am writing to them to ask for a refund and any information on the data house they used to get his details or phone records.
Is there anything else i can do to get recompense and to stop him being targeted.
To be honest i'm at my wit's end, this is about the 4th or 5th time this has happened.
Mick
Okay this is bigger than a few sales calls, but then you have worked that out already.
Most important thing to do is to sit down and have as open and frank a conversation as you can with dad about life, the universe and everything, but particularly this sort of thing.
It might be time to talk to him about you or one of your trusted siblings taking over the day to day bills and his investments. Perhaps a Lasting Power of Attorney and a new bank account. All the old ones are only ever dealt with by one of you and the other has a £500 float with £x per month transferred in for his personal spending with this reviewed every so often to make sure that there are no issues.
We had a Client here last year who the scam artists had rolled for over £30k before the family noticed and got him to call us to see what could be done. Normal everyday elderly chap who was lonely and a little confused. Just confused enough to be talked out of his money. 12+ months on and after the initial wrench of not dealing with all of his own affairs he and the family are much happier and he has learnt to tell anyone asking for money that they can only have any if they speak to his son first...
Most important thing to do is to sit down and have as open and frank a conversation as you can with dad about life, the universe and everything, but particularly this sort of thing.
It might be time to talk to him about you or one of your trusted siblings taking over the day to day bills and his investments. Perhaps a Lasting Power of Attorney and a new bank account. All the old ones are only ever dealt with by one of you and the other has a £500 float with £x per month transferred in for his personal spending with this reviewed every so often to make sure that there are no issues.
We had a Client here last year who the scam artists had rolled for over £30k before the family noticed and got him to call us to see what could be done. Normal everyday elderly chap who was lonely and a little confused. Just confused enough to be talked out of his money. 12+ months on and after the initial wrench of not dealing with all of his own affairs he and the family are much happier and he has learnt to tell anyone asking for money that they can only have any if they speak to his son first...
Only OP has an idea how far from 'normal' their relative is but there are many who are unable to deal with things like their utility providers and investments who are still more than capable of living an independent life once those worries are removed/reduced from/for them.
I am sure that the OP will be keeping a close eye on them but it may well be many more years before they are putting bleach in the microwave and the boil in a bag dinner in the loo.
I am sure that the OP will be keeping a close eye on them but it may well be many more years before they are putting bleach in the microwave and the boil in a bag dinner in the loo.
Out neighbourhood watch has arranged a "no-cold calling" zone for our street. We (almost) all have stickers saying we won't buy from the door and if cold-callers turn up (very rare these days) out local NH lady calls the community rozzers who if they have a minute, come and tell the cold callers to desist. This has been very effective - our street has a lot of old and vulnerable folk.
I can sympathise with OP. I lost my dad at 86 a few years ago after a stroke and another form of Dementia. i had the symptoms described to me by a friend as that in normal life, our memory is like a water tank that never overflows, it just keeps pace with memories. After the onset of dementia the tank ceases to expand, and whilst old memories still exist, the new ones are lost. Perhaps he's now ready for sheltered housing ,with a warden on site to help him help himself.
Thank you for the advice, i will look into the neighbourhood watch thing. As regards the power of attorney, i believe my brother in law has set something up or is about to. Him and my wife love their father dearly but are a little apathetic when it comes to getting things done and in his case but to be fair to him he works a lot of hours away from nottm. I have done everything i can to help him, i.e contact trading standards, the information commisioner, tps, which he's been on since 2002, cctv and other practical jobs i can save him the labour costs on but i'm not a direct relative as such so leave a certain amount down to them.
He isn't doing stuff like leaving the cooker on and so on, it's just his memory that is failing him.
I was more wondering what i could do with this latest company, as i think he wont be targeted so much with the systems we now have in place.
He isn't doing stuff like leaving the cooker on and so on, it's just his memory that is failing him.
I was more wondering what i could do with this latest company, as i think he wont be targeted so much with the systems we now have in place.
Edited by moparmick on Monday 12th May 15:07
moparmick said:
I was more wondering what i could do with this latest company, as i think he wont be targeted so much with the systems we now have in place.
Contractually you can get the previous amounts back.The argument was that he was not in a fit state to enter into a contract as referenced by the fact he doesn't even have Sky.
If the money is taken by Direct Debit, contact the bank under the DD guarantee. Money back in ten minutes. Copy the company the info, and let that be the end of it.
Regarding POA, I'd suggest whoever does it holds onto all of the bank accounts. My uncle does this for my grandmother to protect her from such shysters scamming her £10k for a new chimney etc.
Just after my dad died, mum got ripped off by a bloke who was later on the first episode of cowboy builders, so she did learn a bit of a lesson.
My mum then got dementia and to be honest whilst she lived at home it was one of my worst fears.(cold callers) Although necessary the key lock near the door did tell the cold callers "frail person lives here"
My mum then got dementia and to be honest whilst she lived at home it was one of my worst fears.(cold callers) Although necessary the key lock near the door did tell the cold callers "frail person lives here"
You might find getting power of attorney (think the term has changed) more difficult now because of his current condition, you will I believe need a court to rule on this.
It is a timely warning that it is better to put this sort of thing in place sooner rather than later, my Gran never did and it is a complete nightmare trying to help her.
Best to have chat with a solicitor to find out what can be done to help.
It is a timely warning that it is better to put this sort of thing in place sooner rather than later, my Gran never did and it is a complete nightmare trying to help her.
Best to have chat with a solicitor to find out what can be done to help.
I can't really offer any new advice, OP, but stuff like this makes my blood boil; what sort of utter s
tty scum can find themselves to take advantage of and steal from (because that's basically what it is, even dressed up in a shiny suit) the old and vulnerable. Simply vile people.
Mu great uncle is 93, still got all his marbles but the door to door and telephone sales pressures are unbelievable. Sickening.
And about 20 years ago my grandma who had dementia was in her house and the front door was unlocked for the home help. Some scum came in, said they were from the gas board, unplugged her TV and walked out with it.
I cannot adequately convey my disgust and hatred of these parasites; I could kick them in the face and stamp on their heads all day.
tty scum can find themselves to take advantage of and steal from (because that's basically what it is, even dressed up in a shiny suit) the old and vulnerable. Simply vile people.Mu great uncle is 93, still got all his marbles but the door to door and telephone sales pressures are unbelievable. Sickening.
And about 20 years ago my grandma who had dementia was in her house and the front door was unlocked for the home help. Some scum came in, said they were from the gas board, unplugged her TV and walked out with it.
I cannot adequately convey my disgust and hatred of these parasites; I could kick them in the face and stamp on their heads all day.
Not sure exactly what your call barring blocks, but have you thought about putting an answer phone on and coaching him to only pick up the phone if he recognises who's speaking? If he can cope with that.
My parents never had one and always picked up if the phone was ringing. Since I moved in to look after my father (he has Alzheimer's) I put one in and never pick up the phone unless I know the caller. Anyone who has reason to call is told to start speaking and I'll pickup if I'm there. To be honest he doesn't really know what a phone is any more.
My parents never had one and always picked up if the phone was ringing. Since I moved in to look after my father (he has Alzheimer's) I put one in and never pick up the phone unless I know the caller. Anyone who has reason to call is told to start speaking and I'll pickup if I'm there. To be honest he doesn't really know what a phone is any more.
The call bar stops the foreign and the with held numbers. He now has a new ex directory number, hopefully there is no access to it.
When i rang and spoke to a woman in their customer service, i was shaking with anger, which, although i didn't shout, was reflected in my tone to her. She said that i was being too aggresive and told me she would ring my father in law and cut the phone off. So i rang her straight back and suggested we start again, asked her some pertinent questions, told her i wanted a refund which she agreed to stop this year's policy and refund. I told her that was insufficient and that they should give a full refund, which she refused, so i told her i would be taking it further.
Mick
When i rang and spoke to a woman in their customer service, i was shaking with anger, which, although i didn't shout, was reflected in my tone to her. She said that i was being too aggresive and told me she would ring my father in law and cut the phone off. So i rang her straight back and suggested we start again, asked her some pertinent questions, told her i wanted a refund which she agreed to stop this year's policy and refund. I told her that was insufficient and that they should give a full refund, which she refused, so i told her i would be taking it further.
Mick
To deal with this the product is called Truecall care, a few pre set numbers can ring the phone everyone else gets "Fred is not taking calls from unapproved numbers, please call his son Rob on 1234556 if you need to get in touch with Fred" all issues stopped dead in a minute and the phone only ever rings with an approved family member.
I feel for you OP and good luck with it.
My Grandma has been in the grips of dementia for about 7 or 8 years now (she lives with my parents). However, when I used to live there, i've got back to the house on a few occasions only to be greeted by my Grandma showing round some strange chap who'd just happen to call at the door. She was showing him her jewellery etc. It made us all very nervous for a long while after that and she's at a stage now where she simply can't be left alone.
People who prey on the elderly are absolute scum!
My Grandma has been in the grips of dementia for about 7 or 8 years now (she lives with my parents). However, when I used to live there, i've got back to the house on a few occasions only to be greeted by my Grandma showing round some strange chap who'd just happen to call at the door. She was showing him her jewellery etc. It made us all very nervous for a long while after that and she's at a stage now where she simply can't be left alone.
People who prey on the elderly are absolute scum!
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