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Original poster

Parents being scammed - advice urgently needed!

37 replies

Neighneigh · 09/08/2024 21:49

Sorry to put this in aibu, am a long time member of Mumsnet, very much need some advice.

I've just discovered that earlier this week a roofer knocked on my parents door and my mum has signed two pieces of paper - one she doesn't have any more and one is a quote for roofing works to £2400. She went to the bank to transfer from savings to current account to pay, they told her not to do it. Happened to be a police officer there and they said the same. Scaffolding has appeared on the house and the roofers are coming back on Monday. Money is still in parents account.

I cannot think that a legit company would be available so quickly (they are in south England) and am v v concerned that this is going to go horribly wrong. Their roof is a bit knackered and my mum is desperate to get it fixed which is why she's agreed to it. She is mid 70s, dad late 70s, I suspect theres some early signs of memory loss at best in both of them (saw them two weeks ago and was starting to worry before this happened!).

Parents have not handed over any money yet. I am three hours away. If I can get there on Sunday can I tell these people to fuck off? Can I lie and say I have power of attorney, and they don't even have that much money? If my mum has signed a contract how the hell can I get them out of it? If the scaffolding is up is that them technically starting work?

Any advice v much appreciated.

OP posts:
LivingDeadGirlUK · 09/08/2024 21:51

Is there a contact number on the contact you can call?

marmiteandtoasts · 09/08/2024 21:53

Fairly sure there is a 14 day 'cooling off' period. Could the bank give advice?

Octonaut4Life · 09/08/2024 21:53

Contact your local trading standards officer

Smartiepants79 · 09/08/2024 21:53

Have you googled the company?
Age UK for advice?

loropianalover · 09/08/2024 21:54

Can you find the company online?

Be there Monday morning and don’t let them start work.

Original poster
Neighneigh · 09/08/2024 21:55

@marmiteandtoasts thank you, the bank showed mum and video explaining it all but that was after she'd signed whatever she's signed. I will research the 14 day cooling off period thank you. Can't believe this! I've also asked a more local friend to ask builder mates if they have heard of them. The company has a website and is on companies house but only set up in June.

OP posts:
EbbandTheWanderingHearts · 09/08/2024 21:56

Bastards scammed my elderly parents out of £5000 doing similar. The bank called the police when Dad went to withdraw £3k more. 😡 I'd round up every make relative and be waiting for the roofers and tell them in no uncertain terms to fuck off to the far side of fuck and never return. My Dad never really recovered from it tbh.

JackGrealishsCalves · 09/08/2024 21:56

I would find out the cost of the scaffolding and offer them that and tell them to take it down immediately.
That way they are being paid for "work done" so they can't say you owe them.
If you can find a reputable scaffolder who will give you a rough idea of cost that would tell you how much you should pay.
Ideally you tell them to piss off and don't give them anything but I'd be worried they'd intimidate your parents.
Either that or see if you can get a community officer round on Monday when they are due to come back.

Original poster
Neighneigh · 09/08/2024 21:57

@loropianalover yes they have a website but the company was only established in June - alarm bell number 15! I think I need to be there, you're right (and take dh)

OP posts:
EbbandTheWanderingHearts · 09/08/2024 21:57

To add, they also showed my parents a website which made them think they were legit.

suburburban · 09/08/2024 21:58

Yes this happened to MIL in Home Counties. It was unbelievable and very similar to what you are saying

loropianalover · 09/08/2024 21:59

Neighneigh · 09/08/2024 21:57

@loropianalover yes they have a website but the company was only established in June - alarm bell number 15! I think I need to be there, you're right (and take dh)

So sorry for your trouble OP. No harm calling local police in your mums area tomorrow and letting them know, they may have previous complaints about this ‘company’.

We unfortunately had similar situation with my grandparents years ago with a group of Travellers, a lot of shouting and threatening between them and uncles before they would leave. Would it be possible for your mum and dad to go somewhere else Monday morning? It can be a hard thing for elderly to get over seeing scenes like that.

Original poster
Neighneigh · 09/08/2024 22:01

@JackGrealishsCalves and @loropianalover thank you both - yes I was thinking that about paying for the scaffolding. My worry would be that we can't stay long down there as youngest is having a small op on the 20th

OP posts:
Catza · 09/08/2024 22:02

Hang on, let’s just back up a little. What is the actual tangible evidence that this company is not legitimate? They agreed to do the work and they showed up to do the work. Ok, they only set up in June but new businesses set up all the time. This will also explain why they have a gap in their schedule. And you parents genuinely need the roof doing. So far, everything adds up.
Was there anything in the contract that looked suspicious? Or is it just that you are, perhaps legitimately, worried about your parents’ ability to fully make an informed decision? This, in itself, does not mean they have been scammed.

MarshmallowVeronica · 09/08/2024 22:05

Catza · 09/08/2024 22:02

Hang on, let’s just back up a little. What is the actual tangible evidence that this company is not legitimate? They agreed to do the work and they showed up to do the work. Ok, they only set up in June but new businesses set up all the time. This will also explain why they have a gap in their schedule. And you parents genuinely need the roof doing. So far, everything adds up.
Was there anything in the contract that looked suspicious? Or is it just that you are, perhaps legitimately, worried about your parents’ ability to fully make an informed decision? This, in itself, does not mean they have been scammed.

Everything does NOT add up. OP’s mum has signed something and not been left a copy of what it was - she signed two things and has only been given a copy of one. That alone is fishy.

PlanningTowns · 09/08/2024 22:07

Search the directors on companies house and see if there are other companies they have been directors of, that maybe a further red flag.

what happened with the second document they signed?

have they set out clearly the work they are going to do? The fact they have put scaffolding up is good, but they may just faff about with a couple of tiles. What work is actually needed? Can’t you get a builder friend to take a look or call the company and ask them to walk you through what they are planning. If the roof needs repair then it maybe legitimate but it doesn’t seem like a significant amount of money to sort it unless the issue is very specific.

Saggytoot · 09/08/2024 22:13

Very scamworthy. Any good firm simply does not door knock for work. These have door knocked, probably pressure sold then got the scaffolding up all within a couple of days. Objectively though they've signed something and agreed to the work but you could argue under duress as they were canvassed? Id also be tempted to tell them to fuck right off.

Education79 · 09/08/2024 22:23

I'm an electrician, this is certainly dodgy - no reputable tradesperson knocks doors for work, maybe a leaflet drop when you first start, then you end up booked by recommendation or your advertising - those of us who are busy just don't have time to knock doors, and its a rough way to tout for work.

£2500 won't do very much roofing at todays prices, so you can be sure they will muck about up there for a few hours and probably make any issues worse.

I'd be up there with a scaffold key and have all their (no doubt stolen) scaffolding neatly stacked and tell them to foxtrot Oscar.

In seriousness, if they put the scaffolding up, look at the tubes, most scaffolding firms have their name and contact number roll embossed all along the side of each tube in 12pt type, if its got a number, give them a call, they have probably been looking for it!!

MrsMoastyToasty · 09/08/2024 22:44

A good tradesman will have finance with his bank for outgoings he incurs at the start of a job which will be recouped when the customer pays his invoice at the end of the job.

Tarquina · 09/08/2024 22:47

On the document is there a proper address like a phone number I don't mean a mobile number I mean a real landline number, and an actual address?

This so-called contract was made under duress from a cold caller and is absolutely worthless in law.

these people are scammers and if your parents reneged on the contract they are not going to take your parents to court, so you can forget about being scared of breaking this so-called contract.

Thank goodness they have not paid any money over . this is the only good thing about this terrible story.

Contact them and tell them to come and take the scaffolding down. They are not doing any work before any work is done on a roof or anything, your parents need to get three quotes from three reputable builders who they have contacted themselves via checker trade or such like where they can read the reviews. Even better get a personal recommendation by word of mouth.

Absolutely nobody gets work done because somebody comes knocking on the door touting for work. As the electrician above has said, no tradesmen who is bonafide goes knocking door to door trying to get work. This whole thing stinks like a rotting fish. Do not let your parents give these people a single penny.

AllTheEights888 · 09/08/2024 22:49

@Neighneigh Do you/your parents have home insurance that includes a legal helpline?
If so, they might be open tomorrow, and could give you advice.

I like the PPs advice about calling the scaffolding company, that’s also worth a try.

ThePoetsWife · 09/08/2024 22:55

Contact trading standards - they were brilliant when we had a similar issue and they contacted the builder to threaten with legal action. The way the roofer approached your parents is illegal and against standards.

NightBirdy · 09/08/2024 22:59

100% a scam, the exact same happened to my 80yo neighbour, apart from the scammers had already taken her to the bank for their "deposit". The scaffold was up before the ink was dry. When I realised what was going on, I called the police and they came and spoke to the neighbour and took it all very seriously. Police will advise what to do.

You need to be there when they come back to start the work and know your rights about telling them that they need to get the scaffold down and leave. Do NOT pay a penny.

Ariela · 09/08/2024 23:01

It may be they're using your parents house to store the scaffolding, and trying to charge them for the privilege by claiming to do the roof work.

Waltdisnerd · 09/08/2024 23:11

The roof desperately needs doing? A bit quick to suggest calling trading standards, they might do a great job.