Abusing goodwill for the RSPCA
Discussion
Visiting family the other week I saw an RSPCA van parked partially blocking a residential road and we were all concerned that there might be an injured or abused animal needing help
Roll on several hours and the van is still parked up blocking the road, forcing residents onto the nicely kept grass on a green. Most people probably happy to see the RSPCA doing their work, so no fuss
However, the van is actually owned by a builder bringing materials in and out of it, as part of a group of builders with normal builders vans doing work at a house. The cheeky bar steward had put RSPCA livery on his Transit, presumably to enjoy free illegal parking with fewer objections
I was caught between minding my own business, and thinking what an unpleasant devious toad of a man to abuse the goodwill the public have for the RSPCA, and called the RSPCA in the end. They said it was not their van, and never was, and would investigate
Just curious to know whether others would have done the same, and whether the builder is committing an actual offence (fraud, deception?) by putting official RSPCA livery on his van, seemingly for his own selfish benefit
Roll on several hours and the van is still parked up blocking the road, forcing residents onto the nicely kept grass on a green. Most people probably happy to see the RSPCA doing their work, so no fuss
However, the van is actually owned by a builder bringing materials in and out of it, as part of a group of builders with normal builders vans doing work at a house. The cheeky bar steward had put RSPCA livery on his Transit, presumably to enjoy free illegal parking with fewer objections
I was caught between minding my own business, and thinking what an unpleasant devious toad of a man to abuse the goodwill the public have for the RSPCA, and called the RSPCA in the end. They said it was not their van, and never was, and would investigate
Just curious to know whether others would have done the same, and whether the builder is committing an actual offence (fraud, deception?) by putting official RSPCA livery on his van, seemingly for his own selfish benefit
R1 Indy said:
I wonder what his customer base is like?
Surely most would turn a builder away when they saw him rock up in a RSPCA Van??...
Based on my experience, I'd settle for a builder that actually returned calls or even just showed up at all when they said they would... If he had an RSPCA van, I think I'd probably turn a blind eye if it meant the bloody work got done!Surely most would turn a builder away when they saw him rock up in a RSPCA Van??...
R1 Indy said:
I wonder what his customer base is like?
Surely most would turn a builder away when they saw him rock up in a RSPCA Van??...
Possibly.... claim that he bought it from them and had not changed the signage.Surely most would turn a builder away when they saw him rock up in a RSPCA Van??...
OP,
I think that it is just and proper to report him, to the RSPCA to see if it was indeed one of their old/used vans, or not.
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