It’s always extremely frustrating and distressing to read or hear stories about maverick salespeople exploiting the elderly in their own homes. These are usually commission only salespeople whose pay is based on the value of the sale; the more they can get you to pay, the more money they make. Their unscrupulous behaviour unfairly tars all companies and their staff with the same brush.

Have you ever seen a newspaper advert and tried to call a company for a price only to be told that you’ll get one when they visit? Is this because they’ll be able to pressure you into a higher price when they visit your home?

Often the products can be purchased cheaper direct from the manufacturer and sometimes the difference can be hundreds of pounds. This kind of doorstep extortion is criminal as well as cruel. Bona fide companies who are members of a professional trade association like the British Healthcare Trade Association (BHTA) have a strict code of practice and the public should make it a golden rule only to buy from companies with the membership logo on their advertisements or websites.

It’s sensible advice to have a friend or relative present when the salesperson brings a product to demonstrate and remember that there should never be any need to make an instant decision. Don’t fall prey to some fictitious promotional ploy i.e. ' Special offer only lasts 'till tonight' which is aimed to provoke a decision under what are really fraudulent circumstances.

Ideally a little bit of telephone or on-line research before arranging a demonstration will help to clarify the range of models and varying prices out there to choose from. It’s important to choose a product which will be wholly suitable and will therefore give good reliable value to suit the individual's needs.

This being so, we have a team of staff in our customer care department to answer people's particular queries. It is as essential to us to match the right product to the customer as it must be for the customer to be happy and satisfied with the product of their choice.

If you have any stories about these rogues, then why not stop others from falling foul. Send your emails with “Rogues” in the subject to marketing@mangar.co.uk and we’ll pass on your experiences anonymously if you wish.