On 13/08/2013 19:26, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
Alzheimer mother was getting pestered by some company (I wrote the name
down but can't find it now). They phoned up and presumably went through
a list of building items before they hit upon a back door, which she
wants replaced. Most of the time she tells them to ring back on a
specific day and time when she knows I'll be here.

Anyway, they phoned back and spoke to me, the lady said they were a
"Government Approved" company who fitted doors and windows, and that
because mum is over 65, it's "subsidised" for about a third off. She
kept using the words Government, scheme and subsidised in the same
sentence. So I asked what specific Govt or local council scheme this was
part of. She couldn't answer. Long story short, she admitted that the
"subsidy" was just that their supplier sold them doors and windows at
bulk discount because they bought huge amounts. The "Government scheme"
didn't exist, the only link to the Govt was that their windows and doors
met efficiency standards. She disappeared and passed me on to her
manager in the end, who pretty much repeated what the saleswoman had said.

I asked them not to contact again, and touch wood they haven't yet. But
to a (confused) elderly person, it must have sounded like this was an
official scheme, backed by the Government and subsidised for old people
like the insulation/central heating stuff used to be. Disgraceful.

+1. My late mother suffered from these for a while. I'm worrying about
how I will cope when the time comes. I'm tempted to get some cards
printed to hand out, which just say "F*** off", perhaps with a backup
with the kids' phone numbers for the really persistent.