Concern over mobility items sale in Leicestershire
An attempt to sell an elderly Leicestershire couple a £3,500 bed has prompted a warning from officials.
The 75-year-olds were visited in their home by a man claiming to be connected to local authorities, but it took a number of refusals before he left.
The county council's Trading Standards team said it had seen a rise in complaints about the sale of equipment like scooters, stair-lifts and hoists.
Officers said no-one should feel pressured into buying mobility items.
Trading Standards said they had received complaints about cold-calling and home visits, high pressure selling techniques, disputes about cancellation rights and misleading claims about equipment.
David Bull, head of regulatory services at Leicestershire County Council, said: "We are determined to stop unscrupulous firms from preying on old and vulnerable people.
"Some traders appear to be targeting people in their own homes and, in some cases, selling inadequate equipment and failing to respect consumer rights laws about refunds."