Plumber from Fareham strikes out against cowboys and offers discounts for elderly and vulnerable

FED up with seeing elderly people being ripped off, a plumber is giving back to the community by offering half-price work to the most vulnerable.
By Kimberley Barber
Published 26th Oct 2020, 16:50 GMT
Updated 27th Oct 2020, 11:32 GMT
Ben Proctor, from Fareham, who runs Hayes Plumbing and Heating. Picture by Penny PlimmerBen Proctor, from Fareham, who runs Hayes Plumbing and Heating. Picture by Penny Plimmer
Ben Proctor, from Fareham, who runs Hayes Plumbing and Heating. Picture by Penny Plimmer

Ben Proctor, from Fareham, runs Hayes Plumbing and Heating. He is offering retirees, elderly and vulnerable members of the community discounted plumbing and heating to ensure that no one goes without heating or hot water this winter.

The dad-of-two wanted to do something after hearing about people being significantly over-charged for work - that in some cases didn’t even need doing.

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Ben Proctor, from Fareham, who runs Hayes Plumbing and Heating. Picture by Penny PlimmerBen Proctor, from Fareham, who runs Hayes Plumbing and Heating. Picture by Penny Plimmer
Ben Proctor, from Fareham, who runs Hayes Plumbing and Heating. Picture by Penny Plimmer
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He said that people were putting off getting essential work done, like boiler fixing, because they thought they couldn’t afford it, and as a result going without heating or hot water.

He realised that some members of the community, who are often vulnerable, were being taken advantage of.

Ben said: ‘I’d heard from some of the new customers that I’d helped out recently that previous plumbing and heating technicians were massively over-charging.

‘Apparently one person even took £600 off someone upfront and didn’t even come back to do the work.

Ben Proctor, from Fareham, who runs Hayes Plumbing and Heating. Picture by Penny PlimmerBen Proctor, from Fareham, who runs Hayes Plumbing and Heating. Picture by Penny Plimmer
Ben Proctor, from Fareham, who runs Hayes Plumbing and Heating. Picture by Penny Plimmer
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‘It’s really just a case of people picking on people who they think they can make a quick buck out of and some of them have actually avoided getting work done and have been freezing through the colder months.

‘It’s really not fair, especially at a time like now when everyone is struggling.’

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The offer allows anyone who is of retirement age, or is vulnerable for any reason, such as people with a disability, to save 50 per cent off the labour on servicing and breakdowns.

Ben, who has owned the family-run business for four years, is extending the offer to the whole of Portsmouth and the surrounding areas, as well as further across Hampshire.

It is the second year he has run the scheme.

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He also hands out advent calendars to his customers throughout the Christmas period.

The 33-year-old said: ‘It’s something I like to do as it’s just a little something extra and it’s nice to put a smile on peoples’ faces.

‘It’s a bit of a rubbish time for some people and if I can do one little good thing that’s one more than they might have got that day.’

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Related topics:HeatingFarehamPortsmouth

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