TRADING Standards officers in Wiltshire have launched an investigation after a cold-call saleswoman sold a £2,000 reclining chair to an 89-year-old Bradford on Avon woman, who thought she was paying just £200.

The family of Beatrice Porter have expressed their concern after a woman claiming to be from a medical company representing social services called at the home of their relative.

The pensioner’s granddaughter Sally King, 43, of Bowerhill, near Melksham, said: “A lady came knocking on her door a couple of weeks ago and my nan was under the impression that she was from Medicare.

“She said the lady claimed to be a nurse and she had been sent by the local doctors or social services.

“My mum went to the doctors’ surgery but they said it wasn’t them. The receipt shows the saleswoman was from a company called Compass Mobility Limited.”

Another concern for the family was that the saleswoman wrote the cheque out for £2,000, but the pensioner thought she was paying £200.

Trading Standards have launched an inquiry after a similar complaint was made to them about the Derbyshire-based company from another Wiltshire resident earlier this month.

Mother-of-three Mrs King said: “It’s mainly the way they sold it to my nan and pretending to be something they are not that we were worried about.

“In my opinion, as they were selling something so expensive, I think, they should have asked her if we could be involved and spoken to us first. We knew nothing about it.

“My nan likes the chair but she was under the impression that it was only £200.

“I’m disgusted. I’m upset really. She is vulnerable.”

The chair was sold to the pensioner on March 9 and delivered two days later.

The family, including Mrs King’s mum Wendy Griffin, 66, of Broughton Gifford, and sisters Deborah Williams, 41, from Great Cheverill, and Kerry Price, 35, of Bowerhill, have written to the company saying they are not happy with the sale.

Andrew Tilley, Trading Standards officer for Wiltshire, said: “We are currently investigating together with colleagues in west Yorkshire and also the Yorkshire and Humberside Scambuster team. We will come down heavily on anybody who takes advantage of the elderly and vulnerable.”

The Wiltshire Times spoke to Tim Wright, one of the company directors, who said the family should contact him directly so that he can have a look at their complaint.

He said: “We do ask the client if they would like to have the family present. We have to be extremely careful and wherever possible we prefer that the family are there.”