Trading standards warning over high pressure selling to pensioners

Herefordshire Council’s trading standards service is issuing a warning following complaints that vulnerable people are currently being targeted for high price mobility products by a firm called ABM Mobility from Long Eaton in Derbyshire.

ABM cold call pensioners selling mobility scooters, memory foam mattress toppers, adjustable beds, reclining chairs, stair and bath lifts. One Leominster pensioner was coerced into buying a reclining chair for £3,500 last week and another local couple had a representative in their home for three hours and signed up for a reclining chair merely to get rid of the rep.

Tim Thorne, principal trading standards officer, said: “These incidents may be typical of the way the company operates. The £3,500 sale is simply disgraceful and in the other case the sales rep claimed the chair was discounted from £3,000 to £850. I doubt these items are really worth £850, let alone £3,500 and to make it worse the couples didn’t need or want one.”

ABM Mobility have recently had a court injunction against them ordering them to trade fairly. This was due to there being more than 100 complaints in other parts of the UK during 2009. Breach of this order can lead to the firm being fined or imprisonment for the owner.

Tim Thorne added: “Anyone who is interested in such products should get quotes from reputable local companies and decide on a purchase without feeling under pressure. There are companies out there who target some of our most vulnerable members of society and cold calling for expensive mobility equipment is one of many tactics used by potentially unscrupulous salespeople.

“As always, trading standards advice is to never deal with any cold callers. Anyone who has signed a contract with ABM Mobility and is concerned, should immediately notify us via Consumer Direct on 08454040506 and consider using their 7 day legal right to cancel, “ he added.