Slough Borough Council’s trading standards team is warning Slough residents to be on the look out for rogue traders targeting the elderly and disabled.
Trading standards has received reports of people posing as social care professionals using hard-sell tactics to pressurise vulnerable Slough people into parting with life saving to buy over-priced home equipment such as mobility scooters, stair lifts and walk-in baths.
Incidents have been reported across the country with examples in Hampshire, Leicestershire and just up the road in Bracknell Forest.
Keith Eaglestone, head of Slough Borough Council’s trading standards team, said: “We have examples where older and disabled people are being deliberately targeted by cold callers, normally on the phone, who are pushing them into spending lots of money on mobility aids that they might not even need.
“We can help people who are put in a difficult position like this, give advice, intervene and help residents save their money.
“I would urge anyone who may have fallen victim to this hard sell tactic or feels they are currently being targeted to contact us straight away so we can help.”
He added: “There is no shame at having ended up buying something from these rogue traders. They are very convincing and persuasive.
“But bullying people into buying goods they don’t want is against the law and we want to put a stop to it.”
People can contact trading standards on 01753 875255, e-mailing tradingstandards@slough.gov.uk or see the trading standards pages.
Slough Borough Council
