When news happens: get in touch with our newsdesk on 01202 411293, 411294, 411297, Send your pictures to newsdesk@bournemouthecho.co.uk or text us, send videos, pictures and audio from your mobile. Start your message with BOURNEMOUTH ECHO leave a space and then send your message to 80360
COWBOY gardeners ordered an 89-year-old woman to withdraw £400 from her bank to pay for half-an-hour's work tidying her garden - and then called the following day demanding a further £200 to finish the job.
Bournemouth pensioner Gwen Damon answered the door to the two men on Friday, August 31. No price was quoted for the job, and the men left after half-an-hour, claiming their hedge trimmer was broken.
"It all happened so quickly, and I feel such a fool," said Mrs Damon, who is 90 in December.
The men returned the following day, and demanded a further £200 to trim ivy from her garden fence.
"I went off my nut when he begged me for another £200. I told him, You'll be lucky - I haven't got it'," said Mrs Damon.
"I nearly had a fit when I saw all the rubbish they'd left at the bottom of the garden. Thank goodness for my daughter and son-in-law."
advertisement
"I never thought I'd be caught out by this sort of thing."
Mrs Gwen Damon
Mrs Damon's son-in-law Phillip Smith, who lives in Dean Park, said Mrs Damon had been deeply upset by the experience and had spent the weekend "in floods of tears".
Mrs Damon described the man who asked for the money as aged between 25 and 30, about 5ft 7ins tall, with dark straight hair.
"I'm very active for my age, and I never thought I'd be caught out by this sort of thing," said Mrs Damon.
"I feel so ashamed," she added.
Dorset Police have urged pensioners to be on their guard against unsolicited visits from tradesmen, and asked neighbours of vulnerable people to be extra vigilant.
Posted by: Sarah, Bournemouth on 8:04pm Thu 6 Sep 07
How many times do we hear of elderly people 'giving away' their hard saved cash to unscrupulous folk who prey on them? Warnings are highly publicised. Next time someone knocks on your door with offers of 'help' tell them their services are not needed. DON'T TRUST ANYONE!! If you want ANY work done research the trade and try to choose someone who has been recommended to you. Genuine tradespeople will not knock on your door....if they're any good they will have bookings already and will not hesitate to provide a written quote before carrying out the work.
How many times do we hear of elderly people 'giving away' their hard saved cash to unscrupulous folk who prey on them? Warnings are highly publicised. Next time someone knocks on your door with offers of 'help' tell them their services are not needed. DON'T TRUST ANYONE!! If you want ANY work done research the trade and try to choose someone who has been recommended to you. Genuine tradespeople will not knock on your door....if they're any good they will have bookings already and will not hesitate to provide a written quote before carrying out the work.
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
Comment
