Thieves profit from the feeble minded

A written account of the tale as I confirmed my recognition of the fraudsters.

These fellows, or their brothers in treachery, visited me about 18 months ago. Initially only one fairly clean cut young man told he was working on a nearby roof and had noticed a missing tile, which he offered to replace. Now, in normal circumstances I would have declined, but as it happened my gutter had been blocked and overflowing for several weeks so I saw the opportunity to sort it out. I asked the cost, and he said it would be 45 pounds, which seemed reasonable so I agreed to his offer.
The next thing i saw was three more young fellows piling out of a white van (smaller than a transit but with ladders and a roofing company decal)).
I suppose I have reached grandfather age and I initially felt intimidated, but I don't truly fear any man so I let things proceed, realising there was likely to be some trickery involved.
I politely inquired of the cost, and he produced a calculator, feigned some arithmetic, and announced three thousand two hundred pounds.
I thanked him for his estimate and asked for his business card so I could keep him in mind when getting another quote for the job... as due diligence must naturally demand.
When he understood that I was not about to agree to his offer as he was clearly hoping, all the lads disappeared. I think he had given a signal.
As the last one left, I reminded him of the 45 pounds I owed them (they said they had cleared the gutter). He looked at me incredulously and enquired - damningly - if I intended to pay "anyway". I insisted because I had agreed to pay that to have the gutter cleared.
They had effectively damaged the roof by moving tiles and not replacing them. It's a tactic used to convince the mark to pay up.
As it turned out my roof did require the work they had proposed, and it was carried out in full safety with scaffolding and a high standard of workmanship by a proper local roofing company at a cost of 1200 pounds.
I don't think these are men to be messed with of course. If they see a camera they will shield their plates easily. They are skilled at deception and at being untraceable.
I'm sorry to hear about your grandfather's losses. It is theft, plain and simple, but it is done with subtly.

[JoanCarradine]

O'Grady? Wasn't he the caretaker of the overlook hotel?

[charvais]

Two days work £200 per day two people = £800 + scaffolding £40 per metre = £320, so £1400 at most!

[charvais]

How is dementia prevented im curious! I obviously havent been psying attention 😊

[BushKayakersCampingAustralia]

I dont se how they were thieves . you agreed to the 45 pounds for a gutter clean . they cleaned the gutters and gave you a free roof inspection . you are now aware the felt on your roof needs repairing . They hoped that you would hire them to do that at that price . that's all . You didnt agree they moved on . that's business

[LeeBurrows-wu]

Im a roofer, you sound paranoid, depending on the size of your prooerty, £45 is dirt cheap for a ckeared gutter, its a common problem.on roofs, for the felt at the eaves course to rot back, if they had to strip back roof all the way round 3 course back, refelt, re batten, then put tiles back which require a scaffold of some sort, depending on size of prooerty sounds about right,