There are many products on the market these days designed to help you with your mobility and other special needs. These products, such as stairlifts, scooters, wheelchairs, ‘orthopaedic’ beds, walk-in baths and bath lifts/slings, hearing aids, and many more, can make an enormous difference to your life. They can make it easier for you to get around and care for yourself, giving you back your independence.

How do you choose which product or company will be best for you? You only have to look in newspapers and magazines to see that there is a bewildering choice out there. Although most companies have your best interests at heart, there are some firms who use high pressure selling tactics to get you to buy their products, especially if it involves visiting you at home. Follow our tips below for advice on avoiding expense and disappointment.

• Check with Social Services, your Occupational Therapist, local Disability Advice Service (such as Dialability) or Shopmobility Scheme to see whether you might qualify for any grants towards the cost of purchasing/installing mobility products. They may also be able to give you good practical advice on your needs and in some cases might be able to carry out an assessment on the sorts of products available (do note, however, that they probably won’t be able to recommend any specific brands or companies).

   

• Think about how the product will be used, for example, do you want a scooter to help you get to the shops a couple of times a week on flat ground, or do you want to do longer trips on a more regular basis, in which case you might need a larger, more powerful model.

   

• Ask your friends and acquaintances for recommendations of any companies supplying these sorts of mobility products. Some people build up really good relationships with responsible, caring, professional firms who will make sure you get the best product for your needs.

   

• Shop around - consider getting three companies to quote, and don’t just accept the deal offered by the first pushy salesperson that comes along.

   

• Make sure you get everything in writing, including any so-called ‘special deals’ or discounts that a salesperson might offer to tempt you into a sale.

   

• Don’t rush into signing anything - ask to see the advertising literature and the contract, and make sure you take plenty of time to read it through carefully. If necessary, show the paperwork to friends, family or carers for their advice and opinions too.

   

• Be assertive! Remember that some salespeople can be very persuasive. Don’t be bullied into accepting something you don’t want.

   

• Try to have a friend, relative or carer with you when a salesperson visits, or if you go to a shop. Not only can they offer moral support, but if there is a dispute about any verbal claims later on, they can act as a witness.

   

• Check that the company is a member of a recognised trade association, such as the British Health Trades Association (BHTA). If so, they will have to agree to a code of practice covering responsible selling, efficient complaints handling etc.

   

• Insist on seeing the goods in use before you make any commitment to buy. Schemes such as Shopmobility allow you to try out scooters, for example. You may also be able to meet with electric scooter and wheelchair sales representatives at some Shopmobility Scheme’s premises, thereby giving you a chance to think about these important purchases on neutral ground, and seek advice from their staff.

   

• Ask the company if they can give you the names and addresses of other customers, and check whether they were satisfied with the goods and service.

   

• Try to agree a period of approval, which will give you the chance to try the goods in your own home first - it is essential that you get any agreement in writing, with clearly laid down terms about how long this period will be, whether there will be a charge for using the goods, and when they will be collected if you change your mind.

   

• If the goods cost more than £100, consider paying by credit card. This gives you rights with the credit card company as well as the supplier of the goods, and could protect you if the supplier were to go out of business, or if the goods were faulty. This right is given to you under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

Checklist for dealing with companies

You have seen the product you want, and you have decided to approach a company. What sorts of questions should you ask about the product? Follow our checklist below.

• Has the company been in business for a number of years, and does it have other customers in the area?
• Can the company offer a wide choice of models and manufacturers?
• Does the company offer comprehensive service plans?
• Does the company have a showroom and service base near you that you can visit if you wish to?
• If the product goes wrong, does the company send their own staff to repair it, or do you have to deal with an agent?
• Will the company make spare parts for service and repair available to other service engineers and repairers?
• How much do standard services cost?
• Can the company offer other products to help you?
• Is the company a member of a recognised trade association, such as the British Health Trades Association (BHTA)? If so, do they agree to abide by any industry codes of practice?