Author: Leonora Brace

Be Careful of Cold Callers

Be Careful of Cold Callers                                Hi everybody, had a funny experience today. Left John to get on with his work and nipped out to the shops, Wirral Partnership Home’s contractor Bramall Construction were doing the work either side and at the back. I said good morning to the workmen as I went out. I … Continue reading “Be Careful of Cold Callers”

Be Careful of Cold Callers

                              

Hi everybody, had a funny experience today. Left John to get on with his work and nipped out to the shops, Wirral Partnership Home’s contractor Bramall Construction were doing the work either side and at the back. I said good morning to the workmen as I went out. I was gone for a matter of an hour.

I was only back for less than seven minutes, when I was putting the rubbish outside and two men came down the steps towards me.

One was dressed very smart, with a suit and an overcoat, hair combed nice and clean-shaven. The other person (man) was dressed in dark polyester trousers, white shirt, comfy jacket, also clean-shaven and hair combed. The first gentleman in the suit asked me was I interested in making my home warmer, damp proof and to save on my electricity and gas bills? I said who are you? All they would tell me was they were from the people who were doing the work for Wirral Partnership Homes.

They said that as there was only two days left, I had to pay £200 to £250, there and then, the rest could be paid once the documents were signed and it could be given the go ahead (the grant). I asked for identification and their names. At that minute, when I asked for their names and identification, they turned around away from me, and said that as I was not interested in a grant they would go elsewhere.

Then they said I could pay £200 to £250 in cash now and I said I don’t carry that much money. They said they would take me to the nearest cashpoint at which point I just laughed. They turned around and went up the steps, turning right at the top. I didn’t see them go into a vehicle.

Be careful of strangers knocking that don’t show any identification and don’t let them in.

Cllr Brian Kenny, Wirral Council Cabinet Member for this area, said: “This seems to be becoming an alarming trend, people falsely claiming to be working for or on behalf of the Council in an attempt to con vulnerable people. However, by following a few simple rules of thumb, people can protect themselves against becoming a victim of this kind of crime.”

“People should always be wary of cold callers to their door anyway, whoever they are. Always find out what organisation they are from and ask to see official ID. Don’t sign any paperwork even if they’re only offering a quote. And never forget, you don’t have to let them in. If you’re unsure or need advice, contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 08454 040506.”

© John Brace and Leonora Brace 2012

Guest Post: Leonora Brace tells her life story (Part 1)

Guest Post: Leonora Brace tells her life story (Part 1)

                             

Declarations of interest: This is a guest post written by Leonora Brace but edited by John Brace. Leonora and John Brace are married to each other.

I have now been married to John, for four years, but John’s mother, also his brother, don’t want us to be together. I have gone out of my way to be there for him, but his mother said I should not stand by him if he wants to help the people with their problems. I should tell him to say “No!” Why, when he loves helping them?

Also, he loves writing, for his paper on the laptop. She said no, no, but he loves to write the truth. Also she does not want him to be happy as he is with me. She likes to treat him like a small child, but he is a grown man in his thirties.

Also, because I am not English born, she does not like me. Also, as she hit me in my face on the 27th December 2011 and made me have a black eye. Then a few days later, when I was at home having a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), and I dialled 999 for help. The ambulance came, but also the police came first and they demanded to take John away, because as I still had a blackened eye, which his mother had given me, they took John away.

I did not go with the ambulance to the hospital, but stayed behind. I waited an hour to make sure I could drive and went to the Custody Suite after ringing up. His mother had phoned the Custody Suite and did not contradict that he gave me the black eye when it was her who gave it to me. After I got there, one and half hours passed before he was allowed to come away with me.

We decided to have nothing to do with his mother or any member of that branch of the family. On the 10th May this year 2012, John and I had gone to bed. We have a cat called Stranger, a black cat, whom he loves very much.

During the night, or early morning, Stranger started to cry. He got out of the bed to see what the matter was, but unfortunately fell down the stairs. He banged his head and broke his arm.

Once again I informed the ambulance and we went off to the hospital. They couldn’t see to his arm there and then, but on the 12th May we were called back in again where they operated and plastered him up. Late afternoon they allowed him to go home.

A few days later, he was having a bit of a problem with the pain in his arm, and I was not feeling very well, so I dialled 999 to call an ambulance for myself. Once again the police came and they had been informed that I had pushed him down the stairs, but I had not pushed him down the stairs.

Going by what she had said to the police previously, even though I was having a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) they put me into handcuffs and dragged me away to the Custody Suite, for six and a half hours. They did not allow John to travel to the hospital with me. They dragged me down and up the steps causing injury. When John got to the Custody Suite, after having first gone to the hospital and missing me by five minutes, she stated to the officers not to let me out. Eventually they let me out after six and a half hours with no charge.

She is now stating that I don’t look after her son. She has informed Social Services of this fact, she desperately wants to break us up and for John to move away, so that she can keep him like a little boy for eternity.

© John Brace and Leonora Brace 2012