Taking advantage of the elderly!

Topcat · 22nd February 2007, 17:57

I recently found out that last June my elderly aunt paid a "one man" business £450 to decorate her lounge (I have the receipts), he had done some gardening for her and he also arranged to come back each month to maintain the garden. No date was arranged for the decorating, my aunt was going to call him to confirm a date but a few weeks later my uncle died and she didnt know whether she was going to stay at the property or not so the work was never carried out and he never returned to carry out any garden maintenance.

I called him in January and he said he would return the money straight away but needless to say it never arrived. I have spent the last few weeks chasing him by phone and email and finally today had a response by email, he is saying that the work was scheduled and staff (he is a one man band) were organised, he bought the supplies (a colour was never confirmed to him) and paid deposits for equipment to facilitate the work (what a paintbrush and a ladder)!! Therefore taking all that in to account he would return the balance of the money to her.

I have asked him to supply receipts for all these items and told him that I think he is ripping of an elderly woman. All I have for him is a business name, a hotmail address and a mobile phone number, he isn't registered with Companies House. I have asked him if the tax man knows about his little business!!

Any ideas where my aunt might stand on this one?

elfa7 · 22nd February 2007, 18:30

Sorry to say this, but I think your aunt has had it.

It's a warning to everyone, DON'T pay for any work until its completed to your satisfaction.

sco77harris · 22nd February 2007, 21:01

things like this sicken me

generationgav · 23rd February 2007, 14:32

Did you get a contract (something signed) for the work to be done or not?

If not then I'd say BBC Watchdog or similar is your best bet.

Kremmen · 23rd February 2007, 14:43

The trouble with Watchdog is they need a dozen or so complaints before they are interested.

Being as you don't know his full details arrange for him to do some work for you and get the boys round to greet him upon arrival

Topcat · 23rd February 2007, 18:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kremmen

The trouble with Watchdog is they need a dozen or so complaints before they are interested.

Being as you don't know his full details arrange for him to do some work for you and get the boys round to greet him upon arrival

I am going to have a friend call him and try to get his address, make out he wants to send him some photos of a big garden job or something, failing that I will get someone to call and arrange to meet him at a vacant house then wait done the road for his registration number.

generationgav - I have a signed receipt saying he has been paid in full for decorating to be carried out at a later date.

basegreen · 23rd February 2007, 18:39

Speak to TS.

Topcat · 23rd February 2007, 20:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by basegreen

Speak to TS.

I will do if I don't get a satisfactory result from my email to him - will it ever end I ask myself lol

Topcat · 17th March 2007, 12:55

HA HA I have located an address for this man, I feel another recorded delivery letter coming on!!

Topcat · 3rd May 2007, 14:42

I called his bluff a month ago, the recorded delivery was sent back to me, turns out he was advertising with two false addresses with Yell.com and Thomson Local.

I emailed him, bearing in mind all I had was a mobile that is always off and a hotmail address I was in no position to do anything, I dont even know his surname!! I told him that I was going to inform Yell and Thomson that he was advertising under a false address and that I would be bringing his company to the tax man's attention.

It worked, he is paying my aunt back £50 a month, first cheque arrived at the solicitors yesterday by recorded delivery

Kremmen · 3rd May 2007, 15:26

Must make a note not to upset you

sco77harris · 3rd May 2007, 15:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Topcat

I called his bluff a month ago, the recorded delivery was sent back to me, turns out he was advertising with two false addresses with Yell.com and Thomson Local.

I emailed him, bearing in mind all I had was a mobile that is always off and a hotmail address I was in no position to do anything, I dont even know his surname!! I told him that I was going to inform Yell and Thomson that he was advertising under a false address and that I would be bringing his company to the tax man's attention.

It worked, he is paying my aunt back £50 a month, first cheque arrived at the solicitors yesterday by recorded delivery

well done topcat

he sounds like the perfect candidate for a job at honda dont you think lol

once hes finished repaying, which ideally should have been in one go i would still report the w**ker as he could rip others off

elfa7 · 3rd May 2007, 16:38

Well done Topcat. Make him pay an extra £50 for loss of interest.

22nd February 2007, 17:57	#1 (permalink)
Topcat Supporter Civinfo guru Join Date: 11th May 2006 Location: Middlesex Posts: 2,743 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts iTrader: (0)	Taking advantage of the elderly! I recently found out that last June my elderly aunt paid a "one man" business £450 to decorate her lounge (I have the receipts), he had done some gardening for her and he also arranged to come back each month to maintain the garden. No date was arranged for the decorating, my aunt was going to call him to confirm a date but a few weeks later my uncle died and she didnt know whether she was going to stay at the property or not so the work was never carried out and he never returned to carry out any garden maintenance. I called him in January and he said he would return the money straight away but needless to say it never arrived. I have spent the last few weeks chasing him by phone and email and finally today had a response by email, he is saying that the work was scheduled and staff (he is a one man band) were organised, he bought the supplies (a colour was never confirmed to him) and paid deposits for equipment to facilitate the work (what a paintbrush and a ladder)!! Therefore taking all that in to account he would return the balance of the money to her. I have asked him to supply receipts for all these items and told him that I think he is ripping of an elderly woman. All I have for him is a business name, a hotmail address and a mobile phone number, he isn't registered with Companies House. I have asked him if the tax man knows about his little business!! Any ideas where my aunt might stand on this one?

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This thread is about: Taking advantage of the elderly!, it's in Any non Civic chat here please! at the Honda Civic forum Civinfo; I recently found out that last June my elderly aunt paid a "one man" business £450 to decorate her lounge (I have the receipts), he ...

22nd February 2007, 18:30	#2 (permalink)
elfa7 Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 8th May 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,703 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Sorry to say this, but I think your aunt has had it. It's a warning to everyone, DON'T pay for any work until its completed to your satisfaction.

22nd February 2007, 21:01	#3 (permalink)
sco77harris Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 5th June 2006 Location: stanmore london Posts: 978 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	things like this sicken me

23rd February 2007, 14:32	#4 (permalink)
generationgav Supporter Magic Rear Seat Join Date: 29th May 2006 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 807 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader: (0)	Did you get a contract (something signed) for the work to be done or not? If not then I'd say BBC Watchdog or similar is your best bet.

23rd February 2007, 14:43	#5 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,628 Thanks: 8 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts iTrader: (0)	The trouble with Watchdog is they need a dozen or so complaints before they are interested. Being as you don't know his full details arrange for him to do some work for you and get the boys round to greet him upon arrival

23rd February 2007, 18:39	#7 (permalink)
basegreen Super Moderator Civinfo guru Join Date: 15th April 2006 Location: noitacoL Posts: 2,870 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader: (0)	Speak to TS.

17th March 2007, 12:55	#9 (permalink)
Topcat Supporter Civinfo guru Join Date: 11th May 2006 Location: Middlesex Posts: 2,743 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts iTrader: (0)	HA HA I have located an address for this man, I feel another recorded delivery letter coming on!!

3rd May 2007, 14:42	#10 (permalink)
Topcat Supporter Civinfo guru Join Date: 11th May 2006 Location: Middlesex Posts: 2,743 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts iTrader: (0)	I called his bluff a month ago, the recorded delivery was sent back to me, turns out he was advertising with two false addresses with Yell.com and Thomson Local. I emailed him, bearing in mind all I had was a mobile that is always off and a hotmail address I was in no position to do anything, I dont even know his surname!! I told him that I was going to inform Yell and Thomson that he was advertising under a false address and that I would be bringing his company to the tax man's attention. It worked, he is paying my aunt back £50 a month, first cheque arrived at the solicitors yesterday by recorded delivery

3rd May 2007, 15:26	#11 (permalink)
Kremmen Krem de la Krem Civinfo guru Join Date: 7th January 2007 Location: West London Posts: 2,628 Thanks: 8 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts iTrader: (0)	Must make a note not to upset you

3rd May 2007, 16:38	#13 (permalink)
elfa7 Supporter Rocketship door handle Join Date: 8th May 2006 Location: Cheshire Posts: 1,703 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader: (0)	Well done Topcat. Make him pay an extra £50 for loss of interest.