Teesdale OAPs getting '15 nuisance calls a night'

SCAMMERS are keeping up vulnerable Teesdale folk at all hours of the night, according to a leading charity worker.

Christine Fletcher, from County Durham Age UK, thanked Teesdale Action Partnership (TAP) for its help in its “Beat the Scammers” project and warned of the “horrible” consequences of cold calling.

At the group’s last meeting, she said: “Thank you very much from the bottom of our hearts for improving lives of elderly people in Teesdale through this project. There is enormous need to maintain this project. We have got older people receiving 15 to 17 nuisance calls at midnight and 4am in Teesdale.

“Would you like a new boiler? Do you have a problem with your roof? A virus on your computer? it’s absolutely endless.”

The project was given £9,975 by TAP to install call blockers in dale homes and has reached 194 older people and put in 29 blockers since the start of this year.

Ms Fletcher said the message of “hang up” did not work for a lot of older people and she wanted to raise the profile of the call blocker scheme through lunch clubs and other groups.

She added: “We are working to create a big conversation – it’s getting people to talk about the phone ringing off the hook.”

The charity have lined up 26 call blockers to be installed in the coming weeks and months with a target of 77 overall. Ms Fletcher said each blocker cost Age UK £30 but would not cost its users a penny.

She added: “We hope when the money finishes we have a network of companions who tell people about nuisance calls – we are hoping this project will roll forward.”

Volunteers help install the blockers throughout the dale but more are being sought.

For more information, to refer people for blockers or to volunteer, call George Barber on 0191 374 6568 or email bts@ageukcountydurham.org.uk