You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Elderly neighbour has been stiffed twice now by roofers cold calling him, pointing out work that "needs doing" doing a bodge job then buggering off with however much he's handed over to them for the "privilege".
I'm going to get him a nice big NO COLD CALLERS sign (why haven't I done this before?) but was thinking of supplementing this with a dummy cctv camera.
So, yeah, recommend me one, please. As long as it keeps the chancers away I'll buy it and fit it for him.
Wouldnt something like a ring door bell be better so its captured too ?
A murderer was recently convicted from a ring doorbell thing
I honestly cannot imagine in a million years that the sort of low-life that will happily take money from vulnerable people would care if there was a real camera recording them, never mind a dummy. Wouldn't you be better to suggest to the neighbour a different tactic; ie, just educate them to say something along the lines of 'can you speak to Jonny at number 10 as he deals with decisions on these things for me' then you can deal with them directly.
Yeah, I did wonder if an actual camera would be better. His son is in the trade, builder yet he's no help at all. Local too, as in 10 mins walk away local. Maybe I could shame him into stumping up for a Ring and monitoring it for him. If not him then his daughter.
@johndoh, sending them round to me sounds like a good suggestion, as long as I'm in. If they wake me up when I'm on nights they'll probably get shorter shrift than usual 👍
Just look on Amazon, there are a few, tbh though a real one would not be much more!
Blink video doorbell is £25 on Amazon at the moment, either spring for a sub or get the usb module. Has he got wifi or can he sponge off yours?
Fake cameras always look really fake unless youre going to add a fake solar panel of cabling
I'd get him a real one.
I have a few TP Link Tapo wifi controlled plugs and indoor cameras. Seem steady and reliable, unlike some other brands I have tried.
The fake ones are pretty obvious - the cable usually goes into the mount ie doesn't go anywhere. Pointless and laughable. A Ring or similar would be a decent deterrent especially if there's a "Smile you're on Ring Camera" type sign on the door with a "no cold callers" etc etc.
Whereabouts are you. I have a pile of working (but of no use to me) CCTV cameras here. Plug em in and they blink a red light and really look the part (as in they are real!). I have one on the corner of the workshop. You can have one for free if you are anywhere near Abergavenny!
@Welshfarmer, thank you but I'm in Notts. I will look on ebay at cctv cameras, see what's about, see if I can get a real one nice and cheap to do the blinky thing. I'll also tell him to say that his daughter and son in law live next door and to send them round to us. As for a Ring or suchlike, he doesn't have a smartphone so wouldn't be able to view before answering. I don't want to take that role on due to phone being off at work and my silly shifts. Doubt his son or daughter would take it on either, viewing who is at the door before telling him whether he should answer it ir not.
I think visual deterrents, as feeble as they may be, coupled with sending anyone suss round to us (and if there is no answer then that's their tough luck) is probably as good as it is going to get. Might see of the police have anything he can stick in his window as well but is this just not advertising someone's vulnerability? I dunno, probably overthinking due to being overtired. It's been a long day. Thanks for all suggestions so far, I'm all ears for any more.
His son is in the trade, builder yet he’s no help at all. Local too, as in 10 mins walk away local.
Spineless bastard.
Refurbished Rings on Amazon for £25 today
I guess a cheap Ring will be a good visual deterrent to some, without it being rigged up to someone's phone. If I(or my neighbour) can talk a family member into taking care of the phone side effects things then more so the better, if it just sits there as a dumb doorbell whilst looking like a smart doorbell then it may just do the trick against the worst of the chancers.
ive got a couple of reolink wifi cameras. not especially pricey, and save imagery to a local SD card so no ongoing subscription costs. as long as you can piggyback off your wifi that wouuld work well, and you could just look back if there was ever an issue
just educate them to say something along the lines of ‘can you speak to Jonny at number 10 as he deals with decisions on these things for me’ then you can deal with them directly.
Unfortunately that doesnt work. My parents are getting elderly and we can see all types of company starting to take advantage of them, whether thats trying to sell them a camper van that isnt suitable for them, or clear asbestos for £2k when it can be done for £500. These are 'respectable' companies, not just scum on the street.
An elderly person can find it very difficult to say 'no' go and speak to Jonny next door, especially as these people can be very aggressive and very very manipulative.
Op - good on you for doing what you are doing. I dont know what the answer is, but it does worry me that the son (who doesnt appear to care) will almost let you assume a carer role if you continue your involvement. Maybe speak with the parent and try and get them to reach out to their son a bit more?
Yeah, that's my plan. It's not like his kids don't care, they do come round etc but they clearly can and should be doing more. He's 95 now and up until a couple of years ago was as fit as a fiddle and up to all sorts. Not now though, he is becoming frail and I'd imagine it's not sitting well with him.
I've done all kinds of little jobs for him (and big jobs, painted the render on his house once) and I'll be round today after work trying to patch up the mess those shitehawks left as well as removing some ivy. If his lad is a builder (and seeing his house doing very nicely) then surely he knows people to do a trustworthy job. He should also be able to see what needs doing for him in and around and do it rather tham letting such a lovely house get so visibly tired as that's an open invitation to these arseholes.
I get that none of these ideas are solutions on themselves but a combination of hem could at least keep some away from his door.
All I can add is well done to you for sticking up for the vulnerable. Hoping the grifters get grifted when the wheel turns.
I know you're just trying to help out your neighbour, but you're being seriously mugged off by his kids - the son especially if he's a builder & lives round the corner. If you're painting the house & seeing it doesn't fall into disrepair etc, what you're actually doing is protecting/improving their inheritance while they sit on their arses doing f-all!! Don't really have a solution though, bar trying to engage with the son more & getting him to take some responsibility/put some effort in.
Well....he does have a lady friend, about 20 years his junior I'd say. Family don't seem that keen on her but she does a lot for him, besides making him happy and giving him companionship. I'm hoping she gets the house. 😬