Scammed!

[Ivor Windybottom]

We had a "roaming" gang once blitzing our area for block paved driveways.

They came and offered a free quote. I said no thanks, he said "it's free", was really pushy and aggressive and wouldn't take no for an answer. Thought he was actually in danger of losing his temper that I didn't want a quote. Irish accent.

Then I sat back and watched them make a right mess of every other driveway on the street. Most sank where they parked shortly after. Then gone, without a trace, no doubt to the next neighbourhood.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

We had a "roaming" gang once blitzing our area for block paved driveways.

They came and offered a free quote. I said no thanks, he said "it's free", was really pushy and aggressive and wouldn't take no for an answer. Thought he was actually in danger of losing his temper that I didn't want a quote. Irish accent.

Yep, they can be quite pushy, with air maybe a sense of entitlement. I remember one, where I was out on the drive, working on the car, he at the gate, him absolutely demanding I get up, and go speak to him at the gate. He wanted to 'fix my roof', which certainly didn't need any fixing. He wasn't happy with 'no' and called me ignorant, as I walked off.

We used to get them fairly regularly, but since putting a warning sign, with a pictogram of an alsation on the gate, we might only get one per year. It also works well for the other door to doors. I no longer open the front door to strangers, I open the living room side of bay window, which is alongside the door, take any parcels that way. If they want to 'do my drive', 'fix my roof', or etc., I just say no, and close the window, before they have a chance to respond.

I've been looking over the road, from a distance, at the work they were supposed to have done there. For what good it will do - They have simply splashed a bit of mortar, around untidily, and over the top of the three lowest corner ridge tiles, on their hipped roof. I wasn't in, but I recorded their antics, on my security camera....

Only two of them actually working, the other four wandering the area in the second vehicle, and they were all gone in 90 minutes. I wonder how much they charged?

 

[Lirefighter]

They targeted my elderly mother several years ago offering to cut back some trees and bushes in the back garden of her bungalow.
They trotted out the usual spiel that they were working in the area and had room on the van for more waste, so could do the work at a discount for only £1500.
My mother bartered with them for a while, convincing them to wait whilst she popped to the toilet (took about 15 mins) .
After about an hour of haggling she'd manage to get the price down to £600 for them to do the work.
Then, all four foot eleven of her told them to get on their bikes.
Mission complete.
RIP.

 

[johnny2007]

My excuse to get rid of them is: I am not the landlord, I rent the house and can't touch anything.
Off they go.

 

[King Billy]

Like the ones who think that all Italians are fascists

That's nonsense. Although Mussolini was hugely popular, at first, he had his opponents.
Tell us who said that all Italians are fascists and I'll put them right.

I'll take that as you can't tell us who said al Italians were fascists.
It was something you thought might sound good, but was completely untrue.

 

[King Billy]

...he said "it's free", was really pushy and aggressive and wouldn't take no for an answer.

Yep, they can be quite pushy,

yep, sales people are like that.

I once had a quote for a new kitchen, not because I couldn't plan it or do it myself, but because I just wanted ideas of layout from an expert.

We wasted the whole afternoon, even playing table tennis. The quote was reduced several times, then eventually he phoned his boss for that special discount.
I still did it myself at a fraction of the quote. But it wasn't an unpleasant afternoon.

 

[King Billy]

It must be weird that they only target the prejudiced because I've never been approached by uninvited people offering their services.
Only prejudiced people seem to get targeted.

 

[johnny2007]

I'll take that as you can't tell us who said al Italians were fascists.
It was something you thought might sound good, but was completely untrue.

 

[johnny2007]

It must be weird that they only target the prejudiced because I've never been approached by uninvited people offering their services.
Only prejudiced people seem to get targeted.

Traders don't knock on mental institution's door...

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

They targeted my elderly mother several years ago offering to cut back some trees and bushes in the back garden of her bungalow.
They trotted out the usual spiel that they were working in the area and had room on the van for more waste, so could do the work at a discount for only £1500.
My mother bartered with them for a while, convincing them to wait whilst she popped to the toilet (took about 15 mins) .
After about an hour of haggling she'd manage to get the price down to £600 for them to do the work.
Then, all four foot eleven of her told them to get on their bikes.
Mission complete.
RIP.

I wouldn't recommend deliberately winding them up. Some are pretty nasty types, bad things could happen.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I wouldn't recommend deliberately winding them up. Some are pretty nasty types, bad things could happen.

Absolutely, they care nothing for the law.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

We had a "roaming" gang once blitzing our area for block paved driveways.

They came and offered a free quote. I said no thanks, he said "it's free", was really pushy and aggressive and wouldn't take no for an answer. Thought he was actually in danger of losing his temper that I didn't want a quote. Irish accent.

Then I sat back and watched them make a right mess of every other driveway on the street. Most sank where they parked shortly after. Then gone, without a trace, no doubt to the next neighbourhood.

Years back we had someone come to the door. 'Hello, we've recently finished a job in your area putting pvc cladding around a roofline. We have some left over. Would you be interested in us installing it on your house?'

We said no thanks.

A neighbour along the road took up their offer ... she was left with a side and a half done, badly. They said they had run out of material and would return, which they didn't. And yes, she had paid them.

I'll say again, they're scum.

 

[Ivor Windybottom]

I'll say again, they're scum.

No doubt the village idiot will be along shortly to tell you off for being "prejudiced"...

 

[King Billy]

No doubt the village idiot will be along shortly to tell you off for being "prejudiced"...

Maybe they look gullible.
As I said I've never been targeted, and I don't know anyone who has.
It makes me wonder how many prejudiced people have really been targeted, or it's just another opportunity for them to foment hatred against a minority group.

 

[King Billy]

Best thing you've said all week.