Mobility firm facing action after accusations over sales practices
A mobility firm exposed for alleged malpractices against elderly customers now faces disciplinary action from a trade body.
Arise Mobility, based at the Sunbeam Studios in Wolverhampton, was subject of an investigation by BBCs Watchdog which uncovered allegations it was taking advantage of customers.
Cold calling, time spent at customer homes and a lack of pricing transparency were among the accusations it faced.
Now the British Healthcare Trades Association has said it has begun disciplinary action against the firm, which is also facing close scrutiny from Wolverhampton council.
The company, however, says while it has made changes since the programme, it has been misrepresented.
It also also said it has had to shed 60 of its 80 workforce as a result of the programme.
The BHTA said the BBC programme highlighted potential breaches of its code of practice, which the company must adhere to for membership.
Sarah Lepak, BHTA's director of governance and policy, said: “This firm has not been a member for very long and is already facing disciplinary action leading to expulsion.
"The sales techniques described are not consistent with our Code of Practice.
“Our aim is to prevent companies from cold calling customers, either by telephone, or at home. No assessment or sale should last longer than three hours, except in very exceptional circumstances. Inappropriate selling tactics, such as high pressure selling with a high initial price followed by a discount, withholding price information until the end of a sale, or any form of price conditioning, are banned."
She added:“We have now made Trading Standards, the Financial Conduct Authority, and the Furniture Ombudsman aware of the action that we are taking in relation to this company.”
Speaking to the Express & Star, the firm's Managing Director, Goe Grewal, said he was in discussions with solicitors and would be taking legal actions against the BBC and BHTA.
He refuted each of the allegations made against his company and said a sales manager featured on the BBC programme had since resigned.
He said: "I feel hard done by both by the BBC and the BHTA especially because the programme was very one-sided and was defamatory to try and shame an innocent company with the right principles.
"I am a local businessman, born and bred here, I am constantly giving charitable donations to local organisations and schools, and yet we have been portrayed as monsters."
Paul Dosanjh, Wolverhampton council’s trading standards manager, said: “The issues that featured on BBC Watchdog were very serious.
"While we are not aware of any consumer complaints from Wolverhampton residents about this company, we have visited them after being made aware of a number of calls to the National Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline.
"Following the visit, Arise have already come back to us to say they have made changes to their operating procedures. We are checking this and will be meeting with Arise again soon. Following the broadcast, we have not seen any increase in complaints. We will be monitoring this company closely and if action needs to be taken, it will be.”
