Warning after couple 'conned'

Officials are warning people not to deal with doorstep salesmen

An elderly couple were persuaded to hand over £4,000 for a specialist bed they did not need by a door-to-door salesman.

The Whitby couple, who are in their 90s, then found out the piece of furniture was worth a quarter of the price.

The salesman even completed the cheque for them but did not give them any paperwork nor advise them of their cancellation rights.

Now trading standards officers are warning residents not to do business with doorstep callers.

The advice is clear - do not deal with businesses who cold call either by telephone or at the door

Stuart Pudney, North Yorkshire trading standards

They have found a similar bed could be bought for about £1,000.

A doctor also advised that the bed was neither necessary nor suitable for the couple.

The delivery note handed to the couple included the trading name "Slumbermatic" and inquiries are continuing to establish who the business and salesman were.

In this case, the couple's relatives stepped in and were able to cancel the cheque before it was cashed.

Stuart Pudney, head of North Yorkshire County Council's trading standards, said: "We receive these type of complaints with alarming regularity.

"The advice is clear - do not deal with businesses who cold call either by telephone or at the door.

"They are never a good deal and the salespeople are highly trained to pressurise, particularly older people into making a quick decision."