Jail terms for mobility company bosses after aggressive sales to elderly
Two bosses of a mobility company have been jailed for a total of seven years after admitting unfair and aggressive sales to elderly and vulnerable residents.
Our trading standards team carried out one of its biggest ever investigations into Chesterfield-based REO Marketing Limited.
Their findings led to the closure of the company last year and two of its key members of staff admitting a range of offences.
Rodney Stone, 64, former director at REO Marketing Limited, was yesterday (November 1) jailed for a total of three years when appearing at Derby Crown Court. He had previously pleaded guilty to 15 charges.
Geoffrey Moore, 48, former sales manager at REO Marketing Limited, was jailed for a total of four years. He had previously pleaded guilty to nine charges.
Passing sentence judge Mr Recorder Rafferty told the pair they should both be ashamed of themselves.
All of the charges related to unfair and aggressive practices, including:
Aggressive sales techniques − conducting long sales visits and exploiting customers' health problems
Falsely claiming to be carrying out a survey when trying to arrange sales visits
Falsely claiming mobility products were only available at a discounted price if customers ordered straight away
Kevin Parkinson, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said:
"These are the longest sentences ever handed out following investigations by our trading standards team."We are delighted to bring these two men to justice for the fear they brought to some of the most vulnerable members of society in their own homes.
"Bullying our elderly and ill residents will not be tolerated and we will take the toughest possible action through the courts to close illegally trading companies down."
Trading standards officers began investigating REO Marketing Limited after 37 complaints between February and October 2010.
Complaints related to the sale of scooters, stair lifts, beds, and wheelchairs − not only in Derbyshire, but as far afield as Plymouth, Cambridge and Wigan.
They searched five premises under warrant including the company's call centre at Chatsworth Road, Chesterfield, and its registered office at Barker Lane, Chesterfield.
Business records seized included 'The Door' − the company's 51-page training manual for salesmen which describes in detail their sales tactics.
Stone, of Bamford Avenue, North Wingfield, Chesterfield and Moore, of Netherthorpe Road, Wingerworth, Chesterfield, had pleaded guilty to the offences during a previous Derby Crown Court appearance in August this year.