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.

I think if my mother were to start losing her marbles I'd buy her a Truecall
unit and set it up to *only* pass calls through from a "white list" and not
ring at all for un-recognised numbers.

Tim