almagray

A card advertising various gardening services from a company claiming to be called GLENDALE TREE SERVICES was delivered to my home in East Dulwich yesterday. In August I had contacted this company at the freephone number they gave to ask them to give me an estimate for cutting down and removing a small shrub in my front garden. Two men arrived within a very short time of my making the call and told me that the cost would be ?500! After a little discussion they reduced it to ?400 and said they could do it immendiately. I realised that this was some kind of a scam and told them I wouldn't be taking up their offer. I subsequently found that the address they gave on their card - 88 Lower Marsh Street - is a 'mail drop shop'. A few days later I arranged for the shrub to be cut down and removed by another contractor who charged me ?50. What action should I take against Glendale Tree Services who - whilst they are seemingly doing anything illegal - do seem to be preying on people not familiar with normal tariffs for garden work? Is this a matter for the police or for Southwark Council? I would appreciate some advice. Alma

Are there special planning regulations about the way that fences should be built? Height? Which side of the fence should face in towards my garden?

This morning,at 6.10,I left a plastic bag packed with various kinds of donations - clothes, shoes, bags etc and marked with collection for the British Red Cross. I had checked with the Red Cross yesterday that a van would collect the bags they had left with householders and they had advised me to leave the bag out early since it was known for 'rogue' collectors to pick up the bags in place of the Red Cross. At 6.20, I looked out of my front bedroom window and saw an unmarked white van pull up in front of my house. A man leaving the van rushed up the path, snatched the plastic bag intended for the Red Cross and then drove off at speed. I checked with the Red Cross later this morning and they told me that they only collect in vans marked with British Red Cross and that clearly my donations had been stolen by the 'rogue' collectors. I consider this is a theft and I have reported it to the Met Police. I have also tried to contact East Dulwich Safer Neighbourhood Police without success. Has the East Dulwich Forum received any similar accounts of theft of items left out for collection by genuine charities and is there any movement to stop these bogus people with their scams?