Age Concern Kingston has warned elderly people not to hand cash to companies selling stair lifts, after an 85-year-old man gave £2,625 in cash to a salesman but had still not had the device installed weeks later.
A salesman called the Kingston pensioner to sell him the stair lift shortly after he left hospital and, after receiving the money, sent him a letter on May 13 saying the device would be installed in the next two or three weeks.
Mary Macan, who runs Kingston Age Concern’s advice and information team, said: “He came out of hospital and this company contacted him. He thought they were from social services. How they got the information is not clear.
“We would always advice anyone not to give cash. People can contact us if they have concerns about anyone, and we can check it out for them.”
Anyone with concerns can contact the Age Concern advice line between 10am and noon on 020 8408 8170, or their switchboard on 020 8942 8256.
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