Taking Advantage of the Vulnerable – Part 1

The next couple of posts are sad but important to highlight. So before getting into the sobering chapter here is a happy picture of Mum taken on her last birthday surrounded by beautiful blue bells.

I’d like to think that 99.9% of people in society are good, however unfortunately there are a small percentage who will go out of their way to take advantage of the vulnerable.

You read about these cases in the media not thinking for a second that it could happen to you. I will provide you a few examples including a carer who took advantage of my Mum by using the ‘grooming’ approach. I will also provide advice on action taken to resolve the situation.

Businesses including charities are very good at recognising they can take advantage. They encourage people like Mum to part with their money, to share bank card details and set up direct debits. Despite cancelling said direct debits and warning organisations to refrain from contacting my Mum they continued to pester her and entice her to reinstate the direct debits.

Mum also got caught up in fraudulent activity whereby organisations who supposedly operate from Asia sell products such as herbal medicine to vulnerable individuals like Mum whose name would have been registered on what is termed a ‘sucker list’. Despite cancelling payments these organisations will reopen the direct debit under another company entity and continue to take advantage. Despite the company agreeing for us to return the pills we were never reimbursed. In speaking to the police they said they are aware of such practices. Whilst they make every effort to investigate, their power is limited in such cross boarder operations.

Actions taken to resolve the situation:

BT arranged for Mum to have a new telephone number which was ex directory. They provided me with a code which I entered into her phone and it enabled Mum to dial out and family and friends to dial in but blocked the majority of organisations from being able to get through.

I arranged for all of Mums bank cards to be cancelled. I had to close down her bank account. I opened a new cash only bank account (with limited cash in it) which did not allow direct debits. At this stage Mum was unable to work a cash point and so she was only able to withdraw money by visiting a cashier in person with photographic ID. I also arranged a £50 a day withdrawal limit on her account. Thank goodness for Power Of Attorney!

Now on to the next chapter and the grooming incident…