A ROGUE company director and salesman have been fined thousands of pounds after using a database their company bought to target an elderly resident.

Sebastian Booth and Douglas Allard coerced an 89-year-old man from Herefordshire into forking out almost £4,000 on waterproof wall coating.

The pair pleaded guilty to ‘unfair trading’ offences at Hereford Magistrates’ Court on January 20.

The Green Group (Southern) Ltd was also found guilty of several offences in a case that was brought by Hereford Council’s trading standards service.

The court heard that the company, which is based in Poole, had targeted the victim from Bartestree by using a purchased database and falsely making an appointment for a surveyor to carry out a “free energy saving inspection.” In reality, the company sent a commission-only salesman to sell the gentleman the waterproof wall coating.

The victim told the salesman he could not afford the wall coating as he had to fix a roof leak.

It was reported that the salesman falsely claimed the lowest cost to fix the leak would be £3,950 and work would start within three days.

This was a breach of the 14-day legal minimum cooling off period. An independent chartered surveyor estimated the cost of repair works would be a maximum of £2,200 plus VAT.

The victim called trading standards shortly after being pressured into the contract. They were able to intervene to cancel the work and carry out a full investigation.

David Hough, Herefordshire Council’s trading standards service manager, said: “The council has a zero tolerance policy on rogue trading and our trading standards team will work tirelessly to crack down on anyone preying on vulnerable residents. This prosecution is one of what is becoming a long line of cases against companies based in the Bournemouth area who target the elderly for home improvements. These companies tend to sell waterproof wall and roof coatings or spray foam loft insulation through cold calling. The products are usually unnecessary and sold at inflated prices.

“We urge local residents to avoid becoming a rogue trader victim simply by not engaging with any cold callers, whether on the telephone or at the door.”

The Green Group (Southern) Ltd was found guilty of four ‘unfair trading’ offences and ordered to pay a £7,000 and a £170 victim surcharge.

Booth, 32, of Old Bound Road, Poole, pleaded guilty to charges of deceiving the customer into believing a salesman was a surveyor and failing to give the correct cancellation rights. He was fined £3,000 and ordered to pay £5,300 costs and a £170 victim surcharge.

Allard, 49, of Trinidad Crescent, Poole, who now suffers from a severe disability, pleaded guilty to selling a contract for unnecessary work and misleading the customer over the price. He was fined £500, ordered to pay £200 costs and a £30 victim surcharge.