Oh no, MIL's been stung again - is there some sort of note we can put on her credit record?

[edam]

MIL has become one of those little old ladies who are vulnerable and easy prey for any salesman without a conscience. Dh has got her out of a few 'deals' but she's been had, again by a crappy company that offered to insulate her porch (wtf?) but has ended up making replacment soffits or something (equally wtf and completely unnecessary).

They always con her into signing up for 'credit' that she does not ruddy well need. She gets very upset about this and it takes me and dh a lot of time to sort out.

Does anyone know if there's a way we can get a note on her details at credit reference agencies or something to stop these deals going through?

Grrrrrr at scum salespeople who look at elderly ladies and think 'there's a quick buck'.

Hi, edam. Your post rang a bell about the Money problem pages in the Guardian, so here is one example of the advice given:

www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/nov/21/protect-vulnerable-insurance-mis-selling

Th is issue comes up fairly regularly in the Guardian problem pages, so it is worth going back through the Capital Letters thread.

ooh, thank you winged, that is incredibly helpful.

Interesting, mrsjammi, and good for the local plods!

It is particularly scary to think that criminal groups pass information on vulnerable "marks" to one another. But then again, why shouldn't they? If our banks and insurance companies try to "cross-sell" us credit cards, what's to stop people who really don't care about the Data Protection Act?

Apparently, the Serious Organised Crime Agency is also tracking the "sucker lists", and advise people to contact local police, according to: www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/sep/20/gangs-trading-vulnerable-fraud-list

Ah, thank you, will suggest contacting the cops. Think I did that the first or second time but no-one listened... she's also been stung for a sodding armchair for elderly people that cost 2k which she is trying to return.

dh and his sister and going to get power of attorney which his mother has wanted for some time. Although I have told her just to say that anyway.

TWO THOUSAND POUNDS for an armchair?! Pardon the capitalised shouting, but that's too outrageous.

I know. And apparently they were very hostile when they phoned her back after we sent a letter telling them to take it away again and refund the money.

Hostile schmostile, they knew they were wrong and were trying the same trick on you which had worked on her. Grrrr. Bastards! Utter bastards. And what about those elderly people who don't have any family to fight for them. You go get them!

We will. But dh is a little weary and keeps repeating that he has TOLD his mother again and again... and I keep sympathising but trying to explain that she's old and vulnerable and easily confused.

Hi, I've just happened on another article, in the Times, on managing finances of people who are not quite responsible. In most of these cases, there is mental incapability, not being-a-pushover, like your MIL, but perhaps it could give you come ideas.

timesbusiness.typepad.com/money_weblog/2009/12/win-25-what-are-my-chances-of-borrow ing-money-again.html