Telecare "half a million elderly people will be at risk "

Replies

By glynne

Re: Telecare "half a million elderly people will be at risk "
Tue 2 Sep 2008 11:19

Thank you Ian

One small point, I was in the chat room here some time ago where I learned that a lady had had to respond to her fathers call for assistance in sheltered accommodation after being alerted by the ’warden’ miles way and useless as such. The lady had to run across town in the early hours getting no help from the system that as there to provide that nor from the police. Will there be more cases like this when this comes in?

By BlueBelle

Re: Telecare "half a million elderly people will be at risk "
Tue 2 Sep 2008 11:26

Oh joy. Something else to worry about.

By debzsanderson

Re: Telecare "half a million elderly people will be at risk "
Tue 2 Sep 2008 12:19

I just want to add a word of warning about TalkTalk (owned by Carphone Warehouse). My neighbour changed to TalkTalk and all was well until he went over the monthly call allowance and hadn't pay the extra for the calls..........He was disconnected.This may not ordinarily be a big problem except he has a lifeline that is connected to the phone line. I strongly believe these companies should ask elderly/disabled people if they have lifelines befor letting them sign up. He signed up at home with the "cold callers" so they knew he was disabled and his lifeline is visable around his neck. It made me so angry that such an irresponsible thing should have happened. He is very vulnerable and easily persuaded into these deals offered. I just wnated to advise people to be careful when signing up to these "cheaper deals" - there is normsally a cathc involved!!

Debz xx

By Tricia

Re: Telecare "half a million elderly people will be at risk "
Tue 2 Sep 2008 14:40

I know a business needs to advertise and get as many customers as possilbe but I feel that cold calling should be banned especially when they are targetted at the vulnerable.

This was a few years back when my Dad was alive he received a telephone call from the company which he had a satellite dish from asking if he would like a package added on. My Dad had told them no he was not interested in it.

Until the next bill came along and the package had been added on. We wrote to the company (five letters in all) involved and got no reply yet when the last month's payment was due we decided to cancell the payments. Before we knew it a letter arrived from the very person who we had wrote to from the same address which we had wrote as well threatening with court action.

I took this letter to CAB who I can't thank enough for sorting this out for my Dad. CAB informed this company that if they were to proceed with the case that we would be within our legal rights to take it to the media and it would be great publicity for the company in their customer services adding packages when not requested along with the fact that my Dad was very vulnerable.

Sadly Dad died a few weeks after that but I often wondered what would of happend had this company decided to take a dead man to court.