When will I learn... ?

Hmmzis · 17-01-2020 09:42PM #1

Was working from home today and got a knock on the door. Some contractor looking fellas offering to clean the roof gutters, 50eur for the lot. Sure thing, had a 50 note in the wallet, seemed like good use for it. So I tell the lads to go ahead and start with the job.

All looking fine so far, they get a monster of a ladder from their van and start climbing it up. I tell them to ring the bell once they need to get to the back garden to clean that side.
About 5min later bell rings, one lad is explaining that one side of the gutter needs some sealant. Will be a bit extra, but he doesn't state the full amount. I go, "ah sure, can't much for a bit of sealant". Now, at this point I should have had all sorts of red alarms going on in my head already! Five mins later, lads again ring the bell again, pointing to me all the things they sealed, really struggled to see anything though. (Why no alarm bells still, dammit brain!!!???)

Now they want to get to the back of the house. Guys get up on the roof and I see some moss flying down but rather small amounts. I check the front and also only see rather sall amounts (nope, no alarm bells still).

Lads finish up and ask for a broom to clean up the moss (say what? Contractors without a broom?).

Now for the bombshell, the final price - 150eur!!!
So, some sealant just tripples the price? Brain starts to kick in a bit and I call the lads out on their BS. I say that I won't pay more than 70, as I simply don't have any more on me. Lads start laughing and insist on the 150. Now I'm getting a bit angry and point them to the security camera recording the whole thing. Lads get more serious faces and drop the price down to 100eur. I'm still not happy with the swindle, as I'm starting to understand that I've been well and proper scammed.
In the end I still ended up paying close to 90eur to them even though I could have just told them to begone and plough themselves. Only because in my mind I had entered a 'contract' with them and they actually did some of the work they daid they will do (can't verify as I don't have a ladder that tall) I somehow felt obliged to pay them.

I hate scammers, so very much...

Need to adopt a new rule in my mind:

"Send away anyone and everyone from the front door who tries to offer anything!"

Fr_Dougal · 17-01-2020 09:45PM

Dear diary...

winter2019 · 17-01-2020 09:46PM

Yeah a general rule in life, never ever employ someone who knocks on your door. If they’re good they wouldn’t need to go door to door looking for work. Also count yourself lucky they didn’t fall and have an injury. Seriously doubt they’d have any insurance. Would take you to the cleaners.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 17-01-2020 09:46PM

What's that saying....fools and their money are something something.

Ted_YNWA · 17-01-2020 09:52PM

They only went up the ladders to have a look in the upstairs windows.

TomSweeney · 17-01-2020 10:06PM

Zahir Deafening Tangerine wrote: »

What's that saying....fools and their money are something something.

Don't worry, we all know you're far too smart and sophisticated to ever let any of your millions out of sight.

freshpopcorn · 17-01-2020 10:07PM

Were they wearing black shiny shoes?

ITman88 · 17-01-2020 10:11PM

Kind hearted, trusting people are the easiest to scam! Don’t be hard on yourself!
Have a habit of taking strangers at face value myself, I’m not kind hearted tho!!!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 17-01-2020 10:13PM

TomSweeney wrote: »

Don't worry, we all know you're far too smart and sophisticated to ever let any of your millions out of sight.

Oh you're so edgy. Bravo!!

Atlantic Dawn · 17-01-2020 10:15PM

'Contractors' me bollix, they were cream crackers. Never ever ever conduct business at your doorstep with anyone.

What colour was the VAT receipt they gave you?

17-01-2020 10:15PM

Ted_YNWA wrote: »

They only went up the ladders to have a look in the upstairs windows.

They were literally sussing the house it.

punisher5112 · 17-01-2020 10:15PM

Get a ring doorbell, never answer or open the door again.....

Play Ferris bueler on loop....

punisher5112 · 17-01-2020 10:16PM

Are you sure they didn't probe you???

pgj2015 · 17-01-2020 10:27PM

its like people who leave their car into a garage to be fixed and not asking how much it will cost to fix it, you are leaving yourself open to be totally ripped off, always ask how much something is before anyone does work for you. as a poster said you are very lucky they didnt fall off the ladder. dont trust anyone op unless you know they very well. i was asked by someone at the train station lately could i break a 50 euro note so they could use the ticket machine, i said didnt have any money on me, i had but i didnt know them, i would feel a right ejit if i had later found out they had swapped a fake 50 for my real money.

Wibbs · 17-01-2020 10:30PM

Standard enough scam alright. I've known a fair number who've been scammed by it.

Zahir Deafening Tangerine wrote: »

What's that saying....fools and their money are something something.

On that saying I'm more fascinated by how they get their money in the first place.

B.A._Baracus · 17-01-2020 10:32PM

Travellers, right?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 17-01-2020 10:32PM

Wibbs wrote: »

On that saying I'm more fascinated by how they get their money in the first place.

Good point.

BoroMan32 · 17-01-2020 10:36PM

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

Travellers, right?

Had two of the aforementioned stop me today and offer me similar services to those the OP was offered, but the price was €800

On a serious note, did hear of a local man who was taken for €1,500 by these scumbags recently in the locality. Sadly it only takes one vulnerable elderly person to fall victim to make it worth their while.

whatnext · 17-01-2020 10:37PM

Hmmzis wrote: »

Was working from home today and got a knock on the door. Some contractor looking fellas offering to clean the roof gutters, 50eur for the lot. Sure thing, had a 50 note in the wallet, seemed like good use for it. So I tell the lads to go ahead and start with the job.

All looking fine so far, they get a monster of a ladder from their van and start climbing it up. I tell them to ring the bell once they need to get to the back garden to clean that side.
About 5min later bell rings, one lad is explaining that one side of the gutter needs some sealant. Will be a bit extra, but he doesn't state the full amount. I go, "ah sure, can't much for a bit of sealant". Now, at this point I should have had all sorts of red alarms going on in my head already! Five mins later, lads again ring the bell again, pointing to me all the things they sealed, really struggled to see anything though. (Why no alarm bells still, dammit brain!!!???)

Now they want to get to the back of the house. Guys get up on the roof and I see some moss flying down but rather small amounts. I check the front and also only see rather sall amounts (nope, no alarm bells still).

Lads finish up and ask for a broom to clean up the moss (say what? Contractors without a broom?).

Now for the bombshell, the final price - 150eur!!!
So, some sealant just tripples the price? Brain starts to kick in a bit and I call the lads out on their BS. I say that I won't pay more than 70, as I simply don't have any more on me. Lads start laughing and insist on the 150. Now I'm getting a bit angry and point them to the security camera recording the whole thing. Lads get more serious faces and drop the price down to 100eur. I'm still not happy with the swindle, as I'm starting to understand that I've been well and proper scammed.
In the end I still ended up paying close to 90eur to them even though I could have just told them to begone and plough themselves. Only because in my mind I had entered a 'contract' with them and they actually did some of the work they daid they will do (can't verify as I don't have a ladder that tall) I somehow felt obliged to pay them.

I hate scammers, so very much...

Need to adopt a new rule in my mind:

"Send away anyone and everyone from the front door who tries to offer anything!"

Automatic reply to these call is:
Great lads, I just need a copy of your insurance policy and tax clearance certificate. Are you VAT registered?

s7ryf3925pivug · 17-01-2020 10:41PM

Guys tried to do a more extreme version of this to my father. I got them arrested.

What is it about scams about roofs? I guess most people will want to fix problems with them right away, and old people won't be up looking at them for themselves. Their target of choice is old people really.

Selling overpriced furniture is another one. Free removal of your furniture. Which they sell to the next person. Targetting old people again.

17-01-2020 10:45PM

My Granny was similarly scammed. She had two guys at the door telling her her gutters were in poor shape and needed cleaning, which they'd do for the knockdown price of 350 and even had their own ladder. She didn't know any better but got suspicious when they kept finding things wrong and called my uncle, but had already paid the 350 at that point.

No punishment is enough for people who scam the elderly.

Atlantic Dawn · 17-01-2020 10:45PM

Something has to pay for the lavish weddings, communions and confirmations.

Hmmzis · 17-01-2020 10:54PM

Honsestly, thanks everyone (almost) for the clear responses. Since working from home is a new thing to me I guess I can expect more of these sort of rings at the door. That makes me wonder how often these sort of characters come by when nobody's at home.

Will have a look into some doorbell cameras with a phone or PC app. Or even a 24/7 external CCTV setup.

Asitis2019 · 17-01-2020 10:56PM

Zahir Deafening Tangerine wrote: »

What's that saying....fools and their money are something something.

You won't be able to take it with you Zahir Deafening Tangerine. You will have to unclench your posterior eventually.

freshpopcorn · 17-01-2020 11:01PM

By the way OP.
If you use these guys once they generally come back.
You've just to be firm with them in saying No but don't make an enemy of them either.

You might also now get guys calling to your door selling knives, socks, boots and tools!

shannonman81 · 17-01-2020 11:18PM

The reply I always use "ah I'm only renting, the landlord looks after all that"

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 17-01-2020 11:39PM

shannonman81 wrote: »

The reply I always use "ah I'm only renting, the landlord looks after all that"

All my 'elderly' neighbours say "Thanks, I'll get Brendan and the boys to have a look at it at the weekend".

Capt'n Midnight · 18-01-2020 11:11PM

freshpopcorn wrote: »

Were they wearing black shiny shoes?

Sneakers movie 1992

We've got customers.

Shoes? - Expensive.

ya see anyone can rent a tuxedo

Capt'n Midnight · 18-01-2020 11:12PM

Wibbs wrote: »

Standard enough scam alright. I've known a fair number who've been scammed by it.

On that saying I'm more fascinated by how they get their money in the first place.

The easiest way to make a small fortune by doing X ?

Start with a large one.

Inheritance would be a big one.

s7ryf3925pivug · 18-01-2020 11:47PM

They target old people whose wits are not what they used to be.

When will I learn... ?

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