It’s been going on for a number of years all over the country but the rogue traders selling rip-off mattresses from the back of vans show no signs of letting up. In fact, the chances are these dodgy dealers will be coming to your area, stopping you in the street or knocking on your door, offering you a “quality memory foam mattress” at a bargain price. Rip Off Mattress Van Scam
How to spot a rip-off mattress van scam
Mattress scammers are extremely convincing, often driving a white or silver van with a company name sign written on it and wearing a company polo shirt. Some even have company names that are very similar to well-known mattress brands or bed retailers. They may provide you with a written receipt and give you their business card.
However, you may find that the phone numbers provided are unobtainable when you try calling them. Rogue traders usually spin a tale of having mattresses from a cancelled order that they don’t want to take back to the factory or they are surplus stock or from a show-house or from a business that is closing down.
All very plausible and very tempting when they claim that the mattress should be £700 or £800 but to help them out you can buy it for a bargain price of a couple of hundred pounds or less.
In many cases, the mattresses or the plastic bags covering them will have printed labels displaying recommended retail prices or even a fake ‘Made by an Approved NBF Member’ label. Do not be fooled! Anyone can print labels and stick them on a product.
Of course, we all like a bargain and pride ourselves on how much money we believe we’ve saved when buying holidays, flights, fashion items and household goods. It’s human nature to brag to our friends and relatives that we’ve managed to get a better deal than they have. Haven’t we been clever about buying a £800 mattress for just £150? Errr…..probably not! The chances are that the double-size mattress you’ve bought was manufactured for around £50 so if you pay the bargain price of £150 for it, they are still making a tidy profit.
How safe is a mattress from the back of a van?
At best a mattress from the back of a van will contain a new, very basic spring unit with a polyester fibre pad or a layer of cheap foam over it, all covered in a cheap outer covering material. It almost certainly hasn’t undergone testing to see whether it meets the UK mattress flammability regulations. It may display the small blue, white and black label with an image of a cigarette and flame on it but again, it’s easy to buy the labels to attach to the mattress. At worst, the mattress may contain an old, used spring unit along with dirty fillings.
One of the worst cases we’ve encountered is a mattress scammer who simply placed an old mattress inside a brand-new cover and passed off the product as new! Look for a Fire Safety label that indicates that the mattress meets British fire safety standards.
Since 1988, all soft furnishings have had to be treated with fire-retardant chemicals and have to carry a label to prove it. This means your bed won’t easily set on fire if an open flame – such as a match or cigarette – is dropped onto it.
Our parent organisation, the National Bed Federation (NBF), advises not to buy a mattress from traders operating from the back of vans and to only buy from reputable retailers and internet companies that you’ve either heard of or can check customer reviews. Ask yourself whether any reputable business would be selling mattresses in this manner, using underhand techniques to persuade people in an opportune way.
What to do if you encounter a rip-off mattress van scam
If you are approached by a person in a van selling mattresses, politely decline and try to make a note of any details – a company name, phone number and ideally the registration number plate of the vehicle. Then report it to Citizen’s Advice Consumer Service, who will forward it to your local trading standards, on 0808 223 1133. Please also report it to Action Fraud UK.
Buy from an NBF-approved bed brand for peace of mind
Finally, to be sure that the mattress you buy is everything it claims to be and is safe and clean, we recommend you buy one that is made by an approved NBF member. NBF members have to undergo a strict, independent audit to ensure they have robust procedures in place to comply with all relevant UK legislation on the manufacture and supply of mattresses. 
Look for the ‘made by an approved NBF member’ logo on the product. If you’re in any doubt, you can check a list of NBF-approved brands on the bedfed.org.uk website or call the NBF on 01756 799950.
After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Avoid getting scammed online by reading our tips for buying a bed on the internet and check out our Bed Buyers’ Guide when you are ready to buy a new bed.
Blog first published 19.12.19 and updated 3.7.23
After purchasing a matress from a signed matress van from a “closing company”and failing to find the brand online i found this. No no no i cut the side of the matress open and it feels fine looks new and doesnt smell phew, man in van operating in surrey Ashford staines area preaches jesus
Thank you for commenting on this. So that we can build a case against these traders, please could I ask you to report your experience to Citizen’s Advice line on 03454 040506.
They are advertising on facebook. In Daventry at the moment. Lads name is Gary Calladine advertising on Things for sale and buy in Daventry
Theure advertising on Facebook in Warwick/Leamington/kenilworth, ‘Gary Callendine’ supposed ‘unit closing down all stock must go’. I bought one, just found this and I’ll be replacing it asap.
Gary Callendine is still doing this on Facebook in Warwick/Kenilworth/Leamington as I was caught out. Will report him tomorrow.
I think my Mum and I have just been scammed. An elderly Geordie gentleman by the name of Robert, mobile number 07827598702. I called him after realising I had been scammed but he still convinced me that they are brand spanking new mattresses and it’s ‘them Irish’ that sell the dodgy ones! I guess we’re stuck with them now until we can afford ‘proper’ ones. When will I wake up and realise when I’m being scammed for goodness sake! I’m in the Chippenham area by the way.
This exact thing has just happened to me. I paid £200 and feel like crying! After looking online I couldn’t find the name of the mattress and after asking a local mattress guy about the make he said “I’m afraid you’ve been scammed.”
they were on swalws close sheltered housing 25th April2023. said they were giving them to pensioner’s , get your attention then say giving them away for a bargain price but only if you are a pensioner.
I fell for this scam today. Feel like a complete mug. Man in very convincingly labelled van – Premier Beds and Sofas – was driving by. He stopped as he passed me coming out of my house. I thought he was going to ask the way but he told me he had just come from Premier Inn where he was doing contracting work and had excess stock. Rather than take it all back to the warehouse I could have a mattress for a knock down price. I am usually very sceptical about things like this and never buy from the door so I don’t know what possessed me but I actually needed a new mattress and everything seemed legit. He even wore a lanyard saying ‘contractor’. He showed me mattresses in his van which looked new, all polythene wrapped and suitably labelled. They were badged as Reylon. I should have smelt a rat when the label had prices actually on it. But the single mattress was £100 and the double £200. Seemed like a good deal so Intook both. Then once he’d gone I got a sickening feeling and went online to check out what I had just bought. I couldn’t find a Reylon mattress like these anywhere. The closest I got was a single budget mattress on Amazon for £65 which had the same ‘Aloe Vera’ memory foam topping on it. Then I found this site. I am kicking myself for being such an idiot – and so is my wife. I’ve never been mugged like this before but in the moment I let my guard down. Now I don’t know what to do with these mattresses. Are they even fire resistant? Who knows whether underneath they are some old mattresses covered in you know what? Should I dispose of them? £300 down the drain.
Hi Julian
These people are very convincing. Sadly there is no guarantee that the mattresses will meet the UK flammability regulations (as these type of manufacturers don’t bother to get them tested) and no guarantee that they aren’t old mattresses simply put into a new cover. The only way to ensure this is to buy from reputable retailers who only buy their products from reputable manufacturers. All NBF approved manufacturer members are independently audited to ensure they have processes in place to meet all their legal obligations and we also carry out our own due diligence random testing on our members’ products as well as some non member products.
Anyone selling mattresses door to door or from the back of a van should be avoided and we would advise never to buy mattresses that have RRPs (recommended retail prices) printed onto the labels. This is a sure sign that the trader is trying to con the public.
It really is up to you to decide what to do with the mattresses. However, we would kindly request that you report your experience to the national consumer advice line on 0345 40 40 506 so that they can log it.
Kind regards
Simon
Today we got the van popi g into our road in kensal Green trying to sale us a mattresses
The funny thing is that we bought a mattresses on ebay last weekend but never arrived
The retailers ebay seller returned the money with some bla.bla bla
And then all of a sudden the next day this van guy pops in
Facebook Marketplace is clogged with cheap beds, couches and bedroom furniture. Advertised as new and cash on delivery. I have informed Facebook a number of times but zero response. I have stopped looking at Facebook marketplace now as it is just this new beds etc
Don’t buy off anyone off Facebook
Sometimes you get a good transaction of your lucky but who knows what’s underneath the mattress or what chemicals are used in it
Instead save up buy a proper one or buy a second hand one and clean it good
Stay well away from any so called bed bargin on Facebook no matter how tempting it is
I’ve just done the exact same thing as you! I’ve bought a king and single mattress and now I could cry. I live in county Durham
I did same last night £210.00 for small double and single mattress. The small double is 4 inches too small for my bed so back to original and spare mattress in hours. What a waste of money. Nathan Smith is who I paid my money to.
I was approached by phone today from someone again who said his company was closing after 41 years of operation. He was targeting owners of bed and breakfast accommodation. The patter was exactly as described in this article and he was offering Balmoral orthopaedic mattresses in their wrapper. Thank you to everyone who posted on here to highlight the scam. It made me think twice…
My brother just fell for this today he just rang me got a £899 mattress for £450 dont have the heart to tell him it’s a scam
My mum was subject to this scam 17 October 2023 in South Lanarkshire Scotland.
She was reversing her car out of her garage when a van stopped across her path. An English spoken gentleman started to talk to her. As she couldn’t hear him she got out of her car and spoke to him.
He had a van full of mattresses and she bought a double mattress for £150.00 after she haggled him down in price.
The mattress has a label as stated above Elite Orthopaedic Memory Foam than the various RRP prices shown. It is of very poor quality and I was annoyed how this man had gone out of his way to target my mum who was trying to go about her daily business.
The mattress will now be uplifted for disposal by Council. £150.00 my mum could have spent on her gas or electricity which she monitors closely to avoid soaring bills.
I was scammed yesterday afternoon. purported to be delivering for Harrisons using Furniture World. Phone no on invoice was from Durham. address was 83A High Street Yarm and bank details Lloyd’s Beverley. feeling a fool.
My 91 year old mother phoned me and said there’s a guy in van trying to sell me a mattress, (a surplus to required from the new housing estate down the road story) i said positively definitely dont buy it, and good on you for ringing me to ask advice ! Called to see her today to find aloe vera labelled matress in her hallway, and a guilty looking mother saying how she needed a new mattress and it was only £100 plus £10 because she felt sorry for them!!
Formby , merseyside area. Beware!! 2/8/23
It is possible to recover what you lost to scam brokers but most people don’t know this because they are either not informed or they have been conned by a recovery expert. Truth is there are only a few people who can pull this off and I was lucky to meet with one of them. If you need help with this I suggest sending mail to (JamesRodriguez) (@)(cyber-wizard) dt (com) I actually went to their office so they are 100% legit. Get the peace of mind you deserve.
They are selling them on buy it sell it Warrington
How do I know if a trader is reputable please? There is a man in Bristol where we are who is advertising brand new memory foam mattresses – double ones for £110. Sounds way too good to be true but he has lots of positive reviews.
Hi Alice
Try to do as much research on him or his company as you can. Google for a start. Also, if there is a phone number, try calling it to see how it is answered. Does it sound professional? Be wary of people selling mattresses that only have a mobile number or trade solely on Facebook and don’t appear to have any premises. The old adage of ‘if it seems to good to be true, then it probably is’ would certainly indicate that a good quality memory foam mattress would cost far more than £110.
I need to speak to someone please
You can call the office Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm on 01756 799950
I’ve just fallen for this scam 😭😱 How did the mattress turn out in the end?
Hi, I think I have just made the bad mistake of buying a fake mattress. I bought it from a white van man yesterday 7th May 2019. The label reads, Belmoral orthocare memory foam mattress, it was sealed up in a large plastic covering and looks new and smells new. I did hover it before using it, but I was scratching a lot during the evening. I googled the make (Belmoral) and found a story about fake/dirty mattress. I am now worried, I made a small cut in the side but could not see anything wrong. It has a what I think is new foam and filling and the mattress has the pull together ties which go through the mattress (like most mattress do). The label with the name and mattress details is stuck on. How can I find out if it is a clean mattress without cutting it open completely? I am disabled with a bad back, that is why I bought it, also my neighbour bought one just before me.
Can you advise me please?
I live in Rochdale, Manchester.
Hello Bob and thanks for letting us know. The chances are that the mattress is clean. However, it is most probably a fairly basic specification and worth about what you paid for it rather than the higher RRP they claimed. It would help our cause if you reported your experience to Citizen’s Advice line on 03454 040506.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I have recently been victim to a fake mattress van scam and like you all felt embarrassed, sick to my stomach and traumatised once I did my research and saw the information highlighted on this website.
I was approached by a man who was in a silver van with Premier Plus Carpets and Beds printed in Maroon. First he asked if I was local and I thought he wanted directions, he seemed like a friendly, nice guy. He then convinced myself and my husband, who was at work, via phone to buy a Premier Inn mattress that he had as left over stock. The mattress looked new and as my husband stays away a lot at Premier Inns we thought £250 was a good deal. We are usually so vigilant and still can’t believe this occurred.
Once I got the mattress home I did some research and found it was not a Premier Inn mattress (Hypnos), but it did say Relyon so I researched these mattresses and called Relyon. This was not a Relyon mattress. It also seemed hollow inside with two boards either side and a couple of inches of foam. This was not a mattress!!
I want to encourage people to take action. I was fortunate in that the number on my invoice was the number for the person who sold me the mattress. First I logged this with the Bed Federation, then my bank who put a trace on this person’s account and told me I could follow fraud proceedings after 48 hours. I fortunately have an uncle who used to practise law so he gave me sound legal advice regarding taking this fake company to small claims court for a cost of only £40 and that they would most definitely find in favour of me. Armed with all this I rang the man who sold me the mattress.
Within 4 hours of my demand to get my money back and the unsafe, fake mattress out of my house, or I would begin legal proceedings, the man came with £250 cash and picked up the mattress with sincere apologies.
I am so sorry for those who did not manage to get their money back, but for those whom this has just happened to I encourage you to do your research,get legal advice and tackle the company, demanding your money back. If you signed a weaver taking away your rights to a 14 day cooling off period this is null and void as it is illegal to ask you to sign such a weaver. Also read the ‘Sales of Goods Act’ because they are in breach of it you should win your case.
Please don’t be embarrassed or afraid to challenge what you have purchased and make sure you log the incident. There is hope and I pray you are able to get your money back and heal from what has been quite a traumatic experience for myself and my family. I have two small children and I can’t even imagine what would have happened if this mattress would have ever caught fire if we had kept it!
I am a Christian and I had many family and friends praying on that day. I have forgiven this man and I pray that this experience for him will be a wake up call!
I hope this is helpful.
Kind regards,
Nicky
I fell for this today! Guy turned up looking for mugs and found me on my door step, asked if I knew “anyone” for a new mattress he had a couple left over blA bla blA bla…… As it happens I actually needed a new mattress king-size too and he didn’t even tell me a price, he let me decide the price so I tried him at £100 he said not for a king size give me another £20 and it’s yours! Bargain!! Or at least it was until I read this thread!
I’m also going to make a small cut and dare take a look inside.
Ive just done the same rochdale
Hi Joanne,I did the same on the28 August,£200 for a 4ft mattress.Comfort Dreams,Jacky in Shaw.Refusing a refund-luckily I asked for my other mattress back that they’offered’to get rid of for me.Ongoing with citizens advice and trading standards.
Hi,
I have just fallen victim to a scam of a mattress. Company was called MJF beds direct home deliveries. Didn’t manage to get the number. It was a silver van in the Derbyshire area. When we quickly realised, he was still in the area and we had approached him and said we have changed our mind. He said he needed to turn his van around and he’ll load the mattress back on the van, but he didn’t do this and he actually drove off. These people are living cruel lives and now me and my partner are £250 out of pocket when trying to decorate our new build. Beware. It was a man with blond hair and a welsh accent
We have just fallen victim to this today. Feel so stupid he had a best on woth mjf direct on it. Just worried that it’s harmful as my children helped me carry it upstairs and lay on it. Someone who suffers with anxiety this has made me very ill
Very sorry to hear this Carly. If you have any details for this company, we suggest you contact them immediately to try and return the product and get a refund. Failing that, you should report it to the Consumer Advice Line by calling 0345 40 40 506.
Same scam here today in Llanelli South Wales, he even had his clothing labelled and white van, well put together SCAM…but When he asked me to get in his van!!!! I told him where to go…politely. BEWARE.
Hi there I have made exactly the same mistake of buying a Kingsize Balmoral orthocare mattress for £180 from £799 with all the labels stuck on and wrapped in plastic.
The man was driving a very convincing large Furniture world van and was accompanied by a young boy. I can’t believe I fell for it but he seemed genuine. After googling the company supposedly from Darlington i found out that they don’t even exist! Then I saw all the stories of the fake and dirty mattress being covered up and sold like this!
Worse still I spotted the van driving past my house again in Nottingham a few days later at the same time and I tried to stop him but he just waved at me?
Hi Karina
As stated previously, you’ve bought a mattress that is probably worth about what you paid for it. These traders are very convincing with their stories of cancelled order etc.
Could we please ask you to report this incident to the Consumer Advice Line on 0345 40 40 506 so that they can log each case of such activity.
I had exactly the same experience.He was driving a furniture world van accompanied by a child,so convinvincing.I can’t believe I fell for it.Ive been in touch with trading standards and the manufacturer(balmoral based in Ireland).Luckily I might be able to claim some money back from the bank.
Hi Glenn
Are you sure the manufacturer of the mattress you’ve bought is actually Balmoral Furniture of Belfast? It may well be that the mattress model is called Balmoral but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s made by Balmoral.
Regards
Simon
I bought one of these from a van saying MB trading Darlington and now I look at the picture of the van its not even a permanent transfer on the side of the van. The guy was driving around stockton.
I bought a Balmoral mattress from a white van man (bed included) a load of crap it is, I did not get a receipt or the name of the company, I maid the CHEQUE out to A SMITH.
They have adverts in shops bill boards, there address is just 2 telephone numbers.
So be careful dont buy from them
I was COMPLETELY TAKEN IN yesterday (10th May 2019) by http://www.Complete-furniture.co.uk. I should have known better and I am so embarrassed. He said all the right things to convince me I had a bargain. I relented because I was considering a new mattress anyway and was distracted by a minor road accident that had previously occurred. I think my whole village was taken in from the people he said had bought one….He must be thinking what idiots…and we are !!!!
Hi Karen
Complete-Furniture is a name that crops up time and time again who operate in this manner. Could I please ask you to report your experience to the Citizen’s Advice line on 03454 040506 and ask any of your neighbours who also bought from them to do the same. Receiving multiple complaints about the same company is the only way the authorities will take any action.
Complete Furniture claimed that they’ve been approved by National Bed Federation. Can you please confirm if this is true?
Hi Samantha
No, they are not approved by the NBF. Some of their products may be made for them by an approved NBF member but you would have to ask them for details. They are not a conventional retailer (in that they don’t have a showroom) and they don’t sell directly via their website. It is up to you to decide whether you feel they are a company you are happy and confident to deal with.
Hi Karen, I was taken in by these guys a few days ago. I wish I had seen this website and knew of these scams beforehand. Do you mind if I ask whether you established whether it was a new mattress and how safe it was? Did you keep it? I’m going to get rid of the bed and mattress that I purchased, as sad and angry (with myself) as I am to lose the money. I’m just interested to hear what you did with yours. Thank you, Alison.
IFind it hard to believe when there are so many good bed shops everywhere that anybody would buy a bed/mattress of a van. I you have difficulty going to town then buy it over the internet which offers some protection from thes cowboys
Hi there,
I have just bought one out of a gold van with the name luxury furniture on. I havnt opened it yet but the label is stuck on which makes me feel it could be another one of these scams. Has anyone else reported the trader “Luxury Furniture”
Hello CJ and thanks for sharing your experience.
Luxury Furniture isn’t a name that has cropped up recently but from what you describe (stuck on mattress label, selling from a van etc) it does sound like a rogue trader. Could we please ask you to report this to the Citizen’s Advice line on 03454 040506 providing them with as much details as you can.
I just had the same issue with a silver van in Leicester labelled ‘luxury furntiure’ but the van has no number or website on it. His business card had the same company name but no personal name or website again just a phone number. He claims that a family friend ran off with all the money from
his business which is why he’s getting rid of his remaining stock cheap so the creditors don’t take it. I was stupid enough to fall for it but realised he wasn’t legit 10 mins after leaving and called threatening with police unless I got my money back. I posted on my local FB group and apparently he’s been selling cheap mattresses from the back of this van for years – an honest trader with an honest product doesn’t need to lie! Luckily I have my money back in cash and have reported his account to the bank and will be going to trading standards on Monday too. I don’t believe these mattresses are reduced from ‘£699’ as claimed on the sticker they are probably super cheap and he’s making a tidy profit for every innocent person he cons. This guy claims he’s based in coventry (or was before the family friend ran off with the money) yet I can’t find any info about it or him online. His name is Walter and he speaks slowly and can’t spell!
Hi Harriet
Thanks for sharing your experience. You have done the right things here. Please report it to your local trading standards office. Also worth warning all your contacts, including the local FB group not to buy mattresses from these types of traders. You just don’t know what you’re getting!
Bought same from Luxury furnitures 2 days ago. Man drove in grey/black van, dame shut down shop story . He came to Kettering . Even dropped his card . Called him after seeing this , told him his name isn’t on the list . He said that’s because she is self employed . The mattress actually look good cus I didn’t even know the previous one I got from BHF was basically spring , and I have been sleeping on it with early morning pain 🤣😀
I brought one yesterday 20th May 2019 company Highgate Beds the two men came across genuine but I did not realise they were rogue traders until researching the internet for the company. They even had a credit and debit card machine
Hello Paula and thank you for your email about the mattress you purchased on Monday.
Hello Paula
You mention that it is a Highgate Beds mattress but do you know whether the people selling it were from Highgate Beds? Did their van have a company logo on it?Do you have a receipt and if so what does it say?
I ask because Highgate beds are a member of the National Bed Federation and, to our knowledge, only sell their mattresses to retailers.
Hi, sadly my sister was taken in by this scam on Friday 24th May. A guy in a silver van approached her as she was unloading her shopping and asked if she’d be interested in a new mattress, he said that they were clearing the ‘Charles Church’ million £ show house near Topsham, Exeter. My sister had been talking about buying a new mattress and so she went ahead. The guy even took her old one away, which, I assume will either be upcycled or dumped illegally! I am furious, I went to the show house today and met a guy from Charles Church who showed me around the show house and all the furniture, including beds,are still there! he told me that it was a scam and that the bed is a fake and will not fire safety regs! What can she do about this?
Hi Shelagh
Firstly, could we please ask you to report this incidence to the Consumer Advice Line on 0345 40 40 506 so that they can log each case of such activity. The chances are that the product your sister bought will most probably pass the UK fire regulations, provided it is a new mattress and not just an old one inside a new cover. If it is a new mattress, it will be worth about what your sister paid for it. These traders are very convincing – an honest mattress seller wouldn’t revert to this method of selling.
i fell for this today, i have an amazing mattress, very comfy and smells new, I was happy only paying 150 pounds as i can not get anything even near that price so are these just very cheaply made and i should be happy with what I have paid or are they actually dangerous, how can I find out please?
Hi Vicky
You have probably paid £150 for a fairly basic quality mattress that contains a new spring unit and new filling materials. However, buying from such traders, there is always a chance that it contains an old spring unit and fillings that might not comply with UK regulations on safety and cleanliness. Sadly there is no way of knowing without cutting open the mattress or sending it to a test laboratory. That’s the chance you take when you don’t buy from a reputable bed retailer.
just fallen for this scum scam.Knock on door woke me up.Thetes a man at door with a white van. He told me he has extra stock and wanted to sell.I bought a Double mattress for £160 Retail prise £799..I payed cash ,didn’t get receipt White van.Feel sick now
Hi I bought a mattress from a guy in a Silver van May 27th we are a new housing estate and he said he had come from Cardiff after emptying show homes there & rather sell them cheap than pay storage, mattress looks good with fire label & label saying Luxury By Design, reversible memory foam orthopaedic. I’m Monmouthshire county
Hi
The same happened to me today! He told the same story and the mattress has the same label on it as you state. I am also from Monmouthshire county.It seems like we have been ripped off!
I think the same people are doing the rounds again in Shropshire, can I ask did you keep the mattress or get rid?
I think the same people are at it again, can I ask what happened with yours? Was it a scam?
I think I have just been duped in Abram Wigan. I was approached by ‘Mark’ who was in a plain white van. He said that there had a bed extra on his load he was selling. He gave me his business card which said Beds for you as my daughter was looking at getting a new so I said I would ask her. His mobile number was 07786122432. He had come from Birmingham but lived in Solihull and he had horses. He was very friendly. He drove me to Liverpool to drop the bed off and back to Wigan. The mattress says £899 RRP and appears new. It has the blue/white BS7177 sticker on it (anyone could put this on on reflection) The other label says Comfort Deluxe Orthpaedic Memory Foam Mattress etc. The bed itself is crush velvet. I haven’t opened it yet so not sure about quality as I took him at his word – stupid really! I feel totally stupid.
Hi Annie
Sorry to hear of your experience. Sadly it does sound rather familiar. Could we please ask you to report this incident to the Consumer Advice Line on 0345 40 40 506 so that they can log each case of such activity. The chances are that the product you bought will most probably pass the UK fire regulations, provided it is a new mattress and not just an old one inside a new cover. If it is a new mattress, it will be worth about what you paid for it. These traders are very convincing – an reputable mattress retailer or manufacturer wouldn’t revert to this method of selling.
Hi, i bought a mattress from a man who knocked on my door. It was 200 pounds. I have been sleeping on it. It is very thick and white with a very firm edge. Frankly its the best mattress I’ve had for comfort. Looks clean round the edges, no bugs, smells good and fresh. My brother wants me to get rid of it as he is suspicious of it as the firm does not exist. What do you think. But i am happy with it. But he keeps worrying me
Hi Janet
The chances are that you’ve probably paid over the odds for what will be a fairly basic specification mattress. No reputable mattress manufacturer would sell their products via a ‘man in a van’ driving around knocking on doors. Having said all that, if you are happy with your mattress and find it comfortable, then it’s entirely up to you whether to keep it.
Regards
Simon
I can’t believe this is the same man that got me today in Gorton. I was at my mother’s house and I left the mattress in her hall. Same story and the same packaging, I gave him £100. I will have to wait until I go and collect it from my mum’s to see what’s on the packaging. I am going to slightly cut it to see the condition of the inside.
Hi Claudia
I wouldn’t necessarily cut the mattress open unless you have decided that you don’t wish to keep it. As stated on previous replies, the mattress may have been constructed from new materials – but it certainly won’t be as luxurious as they were claiming.
Regards
Simon
I had a similar experience in Birmingham yesterday, and I normally suffer no fools. But he got me at the right time when i’m In the market for a mattress. I have some CCTV footage, I will download to see if I have a good photo of the main driver.
Mattress does appear to be new at least! I won’t be sleeping on it! What shall I do with the mattress?
Thank you for contacting the National Bed Federation.
We would be extremely grateful if you are able to download good video or photographic evidence of the van or the people involved. If you do, please email it to info@bedfed.org.uk
Could we please ask you to report this incidence to the Consumer Advice Line on 0345 40 40 506 so that they can log each case of such activity. The chances are that the product you bought will most probably pass the UK fire regulations, provided it is a new mattress and not just an old one inside a new cover. If it is a new mattress, it will be worth about what you paid for it. These traders are very convincing – an honest mattress seller wouldn’t revert to this method of selling.
I will call next week, what shall I do with the mattress’s though shall I just sell them on for a song? £50?
Entirely up to you as to how much you want to recoup. Some local charities may be prepared to take them.
I bought a mattress off a man in a red van. I realised after my son checked it that it was fake. Cost £120. Business card Premier Home Furnishing s tel. Matthew on 07780942061. Sickening and wSted money, now have to,pay to have it taken away!
Did you try ringing Matthew? Just wondering what to do. We just fell for same scam and bought a mattress off him.. he had a white van this time.
We’ve just done the same and was also Matthew. This was in the portsmouth area. I’m going to call him tomorrow but I fear We’ve been scammed
I live in Nottingham, I bought a double and a king size mattress off a young man in a white van for £250 on Friday 6th march after bartering him down , it was because I was thinking of getting new ones. On the label it said Reylon memory foam Orthopedic with a sticker on with no other labels , it said £ 799 dble and 899 king on label , he gave receipt, it said HFS Beds and furniture supplier, I rang drivers mobile on the receipt, someone answered and told him it wasn’t a Reylon brand , all he said was what was the drivers name , which he didn’t give me , so not much help , tried the same number later but was unavailable. I feel a angry as I am usually very wary , just caught me off guard. My wife wasn’t very happy and looked into scams about Hfs and found some online and is reluctant to use it as thinks they are revamped old mattresses . We have removed some stitching to look inside , it looks new foam about 2in top and bottom with springs and wadding covering the tops of the springs .How would we know they have not got nasty suprises inside or could they be just a cheap new ones. It says Bamboo on the king and aleovera on the double cover.i will log it with the number you give .The website is non existent on the receipt .
Hi Martin
The chances are that the mattresses are new but just very basic specification and certainly not as advertised.
Regards
Simon
Hello
Got caught out with this yesterday. Like others feel very foolish. I was outside when a man in a white van delivered 2 single mattresses to my neighbour and asked if I wanted one. From a shop that was closing down blah blah blah. Because she had bought two i thought was genuine and of course , I was after a new mattress , what stroke of luck ! I bought a double and paid via banking app. Got the thing in the hose then googled Balmoral Orthocare and found details about scam. Contacted my neighbour , she had the guys number . Called him and said I no longer wanted it and he said would come and get in 2 – 3 weeks when next in area. Didn’t ask my name / address or any details so I doubt will see him again. My neighbour hasn’t yet paid him yet but rang him to say she no longer wanted mattresses and he said he’d pick them up if she paid fuel money . He said he was from York. I have arranged for council to pick mine up and dump it. No way of knowing if it’s genuine but I’d rather dump it and lose the money then have him sell it on to someone else. Lesson learnt !
Hi Karen
Sorry to hear of your experience. Sadly it does sound rather familiar. Could we please ask you to report this incident to the Consumer Advice Line on 0345 40 40 506 so that they can log each case of such activity.
Further to my comment , the mattresses do have fire labels on them , didn’t notice before .
I have just been duped yesterday in a small village rhiwderin near Newport bloke with Liverpool accent told me he delivered the bed to a neighbour and they already had one delivered
I was foolish to fall for it paid £250 smells new but now I am too scared to sleep on it
Hello
I own a b&b and received a phone call from 07465674242 . A elderly gentleman claiming the banks had made him bankrupt and he want to sell balmoral foam orthopaedic memory mattress . Asking £700 at cost . I said I couldn’t afford that and he said make me an offer . I agreed £400 for a king & a queen size mattress . I’ve just looked up the make and luckily I saw this site thank God . I’ve cancelled my purchase . He seems so convincing .. Perhaos the BBC rogue traders could expose them ?
Hi David
Thanks for sending your experience through to us. These people are so convincing. However, we would always advise against buying from a cold caller, especially one who simply telephones as you are buying without seeing or trying the product. Glad that you managed to cancel.
Regards
Simon
I just bought a bed from a man on Facebook Claiming the mattress were clearance , i opened it up and straight away noticed the quality of the mattress compared to mine old one was night and day the stitching is loose and there was a slit on the side i could see inside it , has very little inside it some wiring and stuffing with gray color fluffy stuff and the label for the bed just peels of , the label is “twinkle beds” i contacted the man on Facebook asking are these fakes of-course the said no and i sent picture of the rip and the stitching he has now deleted his post, what can i do? can i get my money back? they are from England and i live in Scotland 15/09/19
I contacted the police but was told i don’t have a case as im just an unhappy customer not happy about the quality of the mattress very not happy about this.
Hi Stephen
Unfortunately, buying from people who only trade via Facebook is a risky way to purchase a mattress as you often have no comeback if you have any complaints. W would suggest you contact your local trading standards office and also make a complaint about this trader to Facebook.
hi ,
Yep i was done yesterday.
His van reg is MV17GNJ .The tel number on the van is 02084 859401. Advertising on side of the van reads;Luxury Durest ,Furniture home delivery. email: luxurydurestfurniture@gmail.com. This was in Norfolk.
20 .sept .19
mr muggins
Further to the last comment.The registered owner of MV17GNJ lives in the Manchester .Merseyside area.Anyone got an address or tel number for this character?
Was this a gold color van
I bought a king sized mattress from a sale in a Hotel and now beginning to wonder if that was dodgy after reading people’s comments, What do you think?
Hello John
Does the mattress have a label on it with a model name or brand name? Did you get a receipt or invoice that shows a business or individual name and address?
Regards
Simon
Hi, 2 days ago l purchased a mattress from a man in a van , he had stopped and approached my husband saying he could sell us a Balmoral mattress at a discounted price he wanted £200 , we paid him by card £150. He said he was from Darlington and he was with a young boy, the man said it was his son. The name on his van was Furniture World.
Hello
This is a familiar company and familiar product that has cropped up time and again. The product will be a fairly basic mattress and barely worth what you paid for it. However there is no guarantee that it meets UK flammability standards or whether it is an old mattress in a new cover. We would ask you to report the details to the Consumer Advice Service on 0345 40 40 506 as they log each case of such activity.
Regards
Simon
Just been done in the Stockton lane area of York. Be careful! silver/grey Van with RF furniture world and matching business cards. Man and young boy who called him dad. Balmoral orthocare memory foam. Paid £160 for a double. Disappointed in myself for falling for this one.
Hi Steve
As stated previously on this post, these people are very plausible and make you think you’re getting a bargain. This guy has obviously taken delivery of a stock of these mattresses and is driving around trying to sell them. We would ask you to report the details to the Consumer Advice Service on 0345 40 40 506 as they log each case of such activity.
Regards
Simon
They’re still on the go. I’ve just been conned in Northumberland. Very convincing sales pitch about surplus stock that they don’t want to take back to the warehouse, etc, etc.
I just paid £180 by bank transfer while he, “Robbie Flannagan” with light ginger hair and a beard, stood over my shoulder. He was accompanied by a young lad, perhaps in is late teens or early twenties who had dark hair and no sign of the start of any facial hair growth.
The van is a Silver PEUGEOT BOXER on registration “BF 20” so must be making an absolute packet as this reg sold in 2001 for £4200 presumably paid for by suckers such as myself. His mobile number is 07774 046400 as stated on his bogus business card. I did call him back to say that I wanted my money back. He seemed amenable, I withheld my number, but he asked me to text him my address so he could arrange collection. However, I suspect this was so he could obtain my number so he could block/ignore any future calls.
I fortunately have CCTV footage of his visit and subsequent mattress delivery.
Feel like such an absolute mug as this is precisely the sort of thing I would have imagined that I would never have succumbed to, so beware!!!!!!!!
BBC Watchdog here I come.
Watch this space!!!
Thank you for your post. Yes it’s so annoying but sadly Trading Standards seem unable to clamp down on these people despite us feeding them the information. In truth, they are so under-resourced to investigate these types of rogue traders. If it was unsafe toys or children’s furniture that could cause harm or even death, then they would follow up. All we can do is to continue to raise awareness of these types of mattress scams and ask you to warn all your contacts. We strongly recommend that you only buy a mattress from reputable retailers – either in-store or via their website. It is best to avoid buying from internet platforms where you are unsure of the origin of the mattress.
Regards
Simon
I run a bed and breakfast in Croydon, South London. I received a telephone call today from 07465674242 and the man gave me the story about the company going into liquidation and said he was trying to sell the stock before it was taken by the liquidators. He said he had been supplying bed and breakfasts in our area for years. He wanted £150 for a single mattress but also tried to sell me a 4 foot double as well. He said he would deliver tomorrow. I have telephoned and cancelled the delivery however he did not ask who I was or the address so i expect he will turn up.
Hi Janet
We have had a number of calls in the last week, very similar to your story. Apparently the man is calling himself Mr. Newbury and he’s using the same story about liquidation stock. He is clearly phoning as many B&Bs and small hotels as he can.
We would advise anyone not to buy mattresses in this way but to try and obtain as much detail as you can and then report it to the Consumer Advice Service on 0345 40 40 506. Also, if you are able to publicise this via a trade association of B&Bs then this would help make more people aware of the scam.
Regards
Simon
6th February 2020
R.F. furniture, grey Peugeot van reg no BF 20
Sold us 2 balmoral mattresses for 350 quid, I should’ve smelt a rat but was very convincing, even showed him this forum and he took it all in and blagged his way through it. Hopefully he won’t get his money as we went into the bank and cancelled the cheque made payable to R. Flanagan.
Please be aware, this is in the retford area.
We fell for the scam today. I thought I was quite savvy but obviously not. I am gutted that we gave the man £290 for a king sized mattress, king size duvet and 6 pillows. He said that he’d been refurbishing a local luxury hotel. He took away our old mattress for free. The new one seems ok but I’m concerned that it isn’t fire resistant and it actually smells a bit smoky. I took the van registration number in case of any problems so deep down I think I was suspicious. I also have his mobile number as he said he had some more if any friends wanted one.
Hi Lesley. Are you able to share his van registration and mobile number so that we can add it to our database? Also, what is the model name of the mattress and does it have a stick on label with recommended retail prices?
Regards
Simon
Got one today in Lincoln area, usual story HFS on the side of the van. Prices on label, relyon fake. unfortunately you won’t be reading these comments until after you’ve parted with your money.
Thanks for your post Dave and we’re sorry to learn that you’ve been conned into buying a fake Relyon mattress. No reputable mattress brand would sell their products using ‘a man in a van’. Please advise all your contacts not to buy a mattress from these types of traders. If it seems to good to be true, it invariably is.
Regards
Simon
Mother in law was duped today in South Shields.
Mathew from Premier House Furnishings (07780 942061)
£150 for a double mattress, usual story couldn’t store them in the business or it was closing down (couldn’t remember) and his boss wanted him to try get rid of them.
Very convincing, company uniform, decals at the side of the van etc.
I agreed to buy a single mattress off him as well for £80.
I was on the way home (he followed behind me)
So glad my wife googled his business card, and this website flagged up. Before I fell victim to the scam, called him up and told him we weren’t interested any more.
This person is also contacting care homes in the Croydon area, calling himself Mr Newman from phone number 07465674242 and asking if anyone wants cheap mattresses or beds as he is selling his stock as his shop is closing.
I’m glad I googled his phone number before we passed onto our staff to see if anyone is looking for a cheap bed or mattress. As others have said, if it seems too good to be true it probably is!
I own a care home and he phoned me and I bought 10 Single mattresses and they are brilliant to be honest so maybe worth giving him a chance
Hi George
As long as the mattresses meet the medium hazard flammability standard BS 7177 for use in care homes. Did you ask to see official certificates of compliance?
Regards
Simon
They were in Keyworth this week. The mattresses supposedly came from a show house which I know never existed. I never buy at the door so wasn’t tempted but he said he’d find someone before long.
The van was very wells appointed, he was smartly dressed and well spoken.
Don’t fall for the scam!
Bought one 8 years ago from a guy in a van and it was absolutely smashing so I bought another one a few months back and it is also brilliant heard a load of nonsense about old ones recovered I think that’s just the bed fed upset because there making money what could be there’s
Hi Nathan
People selling mattresses door to door from a van are generally offloading cheap, often unhygienic and unsafe products to the unsuspecting public. Our advice is to send them packing.
Bought one of these last year it’s been brilliant never had a problem with it I checked the company out and they had a shop a few miles away from me so maybe all are not scammers
Hi Edna
That’s good to hear. Clearly there are some genuine offers around but generally speaking, if someone approaches you in a van offering to sell you a mattress at a heavily discounted price, it’s unlikely to be as described.
Hi, I recently bought the mattress on Facebook From Roberts Bed & Mattresses company. The brand of the mattress wants to be “Horizon Sleep”. I paid £120 for a double memory foam orthopedic spring medium-firm type. The mattress is new and looks well finished/ of good quality, however having tested it for several nights I feel this is not what I wanted mainly because the mattress feels too soft. Having problems with my back pain I was expecting a medium-firm mattress to be firmer (orthopedic side was supposed to be “firm”), when I sit on its edge it squeezes down to half of its depth (I am not a heavy person), I would not expect for a partially firm mattress to do that? I tried to find a code defining soft/firm mattresses however finding the precise definition seems to be difficult… I approached a company with this problem, they are very communicative and responsive however they did not agree to accept the return or exchange the mattress – as they say, they are not allowed to do that due to COVID? I am wondering whether I made the right decision when buying from this company, have I also been scammed?
Also to mention – this company is having great reviews on Facebook, if the people were not happy with the product or services then surely someone would eventually post it on their profile?
Just did the same in Liverpool gutted
I think i was taken in today in the same way. Paid cash for a double mattress from man and young iad in white van with blue lettering. Got well and truly taken in. Mattress seems ok quality but stick on label and recommended retail price made me think again but too late unfortunately. This happened in the Torbay area on 13th July 2020.
The bed label states Premier Sleep Orthocare Memory
Further to my last post on 13th July i have dashcam footage of the van. The company name is Burtex carpets and furnishings Birmingham a Mercedes Sprinter van reg KV14XXE The phone numbers on the van are probably unatainable.
Yep I was taken in too by salesmen from a van saying they have leftover stock after supplying to Premier Inn. They were in Teignmouth on Tues 14 July and appeared very convincing with uniforms, lanyards and in van labelled with company name Burtex Furnishings and Flooring. But on googling this company, it doesn’t seem to exist. I have reported this to Citizens Advice who have referred it onto Trading Standards. I have also cancelled my cheque and sent a letter recorded delivery to the address on the invoice requesting them to collect the mattress within the next 2 weeks as advised by CAB under consumer rights. But I will be surprised if they come back.
I think I may have had one of these mattresses today. Label says….Comfort Deluxe Orthopaedic Cool Touch Memory Foam Mattress. Man grey hair, late 50s, approached me to sell a king size mattress, which he claimed was an extra a lady down the road didn’t want. I knew it was dodgy when he said he’s come back in half hour after another delivery to pick my old one up, and he didn’t: I have 4 young children in my house, and now I’m worried this mattress is not safe?! He drove a large white van with blue writing.
I purchased a divan bed and mattress from Complete Furniture on Monday. I am normally really guarded when it comes to buying goods at the door but this guy was so plausible and I even live on an incomplete new estate which he said he supplied. I have actually lost sleep worrying about what I have bought after finding this webside. To think I bought this for my daughter and it could be an old mattress recovered makes me feel sick to my stomach. It does smell like new though. It has safety labels on it but like I’ve read on here, anyone can get hold of these. I think I am just going to get rid of the whole thing and buy one from a reputable company and maintain my usual stance of don’t ever buy at the door. I’m sad to lose the money that I paid but I’d rather have peace of mind.
Hi I’ve had a few beds from that company and after hearing and reading all these reviews I got in touch with the company myself and after talking to them they sent me the name of the company that supplies all beds and mattresses i called them and actually found out that they are backed by trading standards so don’t worry yourself anymore
Hi, I’ve just bought two from the same company today. I’m also on an incomplete new estate and the guy was extremely plausible. I am now feeling stressed and worried that I have been scammed. Did you ever ring the company?
Same on a new estate; Apparently its a common occurrence for new builds? “Company” MJF
This happened to us today, I feel really really stupid!
A Man in a white van, with the name Premier Home Furnishing on the side, approached hubby outside our house. He was very convincing, said it was surplus stock from a closing down store, and as we desperately need a new mattress, hubby thought he was getting a bargain – which it would have been if true!
Paid £150 cash, he give us a receipt and left. Something didn’t feel right so I googled the name on the receipt…low and behold I can’t find anything on them! Googled the phone number and I was brought to this site.
I have contacted citizens advice to log the incident for information purposes, but feel really stupid not to mention £150 lighter.
I’ve learnt my lesson now – if it’s to good to be true it usually is!
This happened to me today in leicestershire. Premier beds or something like that on the van. I thought I was pretty clued up to this kind of thing. His story seemed believable enough and I managed to knock him down to 150. Totally feel daft. Bed was listed as dream sleep orthopaedic memory foam. I have made a cut on the mattress and although it’s not an old mattress wrapped up it certainly doesn’t appear to be a memory foam mattress. It just looks like a spring mattress. Not sure what to do now. Feel embarrassed to contact police or anything like that. Mind you, they wont be interested really. Not much they can do.
Hi GW
You could report it to your local Trading Standards office and also to the Consumer Help line on 0808 223 1133.
Not sure they can do anything?
Hi, I brought a mattress from a guy I dont know, a van I dont know the registration too and no receipt….I think it’s just lesson learnt
I think I got scammed today. I’m quite an impressionable person and get taken in by stories even if I know deep down its not true. I want to see the good in people and its not until a mistake has been made I will kick myself. So when this man came to my door selling a surplus matress and not wanting to drive back to Newcastle with it (I live in scotland) I felt like I wanted to help him out. I was in the market for a new matress anyway so win win in my opinion. The man brought the mattress to the door and literally stepped into my house with it. After looking it over briefly I decided to go ahead and purchase. I asked how he would liked paid and he said he could do bank transfer or cash. I thought bank transfer was better as at least I would have details that could be traced. So I made the transfer of 160 to this man’s account he asks me if I know anyone who may be in need of a mattress and I said I didn’t know. He then left before I relised thst I had not been given a receipt or any contact details. So I started feeling sick to my stomach. I phoned my mom later that day and told her of my experience she told me that I had probably been scammed and just to check and make sure they couldn’t get any money from my bank on top of what I had already dished out. After trying the brand that was on the mattress I couldn’t see anything on google for reviews or contact information. So now I’m left with a mattress that I really don’t know where it came from and I’m sleeping on it as I already put my old one out before I even thought deeper about the true implications of a fake mattress. I’m going to order one from a reputable dealer ASAP and get rid of this one but I’m 160 out of pocket and feel pretty stupid. For anyone reading this do your due diligence and check out the people who come to your door selling goods. Make sure you get a receipt.
Thanks for your post David. These traders rely on the fact that many people are ‘in the market’ for a new mattress and with an offer that appears to be too good to be true, It’s an easy sale for them. It’s unlikely that they will clear your bank account as they are generally just trying to offload mattresses for some cash.
I can’t believe this scam is still going? Clearly reporting it is doing no help.
Here’s the latest details
“Martin 07724665948 MJF Show Rooms”. Old man late 50’s silver van. Last seen in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
We own a guest house in Cornwall, and have been approached twice in the three-and-a-half years since we moved here – the first time was about two years ago, and the second less than two hours ago!
On the first occasion, although we were considering getting new mattresses, the ‘random’ knock on the door approach simply seemed suspicious, so we declined…
….this time, as we’d bought branded mattresses early last year which then, of course, have only had very limited use since, we were able to honestly say we didn’t want or need any.
It was the Google search (made just out of curiosity) for ‘HFS Couriers’ displayed on both the van and the driver’s cap which led me to this page – his opening line was that he’d been delivering to hotels and B&B’s in the area…
Hi, I think I got scammed today . I just met this guy drove to my business place local shop parking. Trying to convince me he just delivered in my area few beds. Claimed they clearing warehouse closing stock. He need to sell everything he have empty his van today as base is closed. Prices on the products were quite high he is claiming branded once giving for 1/4th. I was looking for a spare bed not having time to look into it thought it will help him as well. In my heart feeling doubted , in the heart of humanity and challenging times accepted his deal. he was very eager to deliver that to my home told me to pay the money once returned to where i am. As i am in work place my attention was towards work he took that as advantage. charged be bed base and king size luxury mattress £500. Later he insisted me to pay in cash. I managed cash in meanwhile convinced me to take bed cover, pillow cover and pillows at unbelievable price. as they priced £579.99 for duvet cover 3 in 1 set, pillows39.99 for £150. asked for £100 made a deal for £120. While i am sorting out cash tried to google the cost of these found £39.99 some £20 plus in amazon etc. Brand name Antonio Saviero Luxury Egyptian cotton bed set. it was too late he refused to give me his number name and any details. Drove off immediately, as he told trying to sell all stay here for some time to find buyers I thought verify the products. I cant check the bed and mattress as its been delivered to my home. reported to consumer advice service. I noted the vehicle registration number they gave ref number told they only have limited control with out company details and receipt. and ask me to report action fraud 03001232040 as well. I am feeling guilty and doomed spoiled my day. Damn cant believe myself how I trusted and paid him.
Man with the Van in Stewartby today
White Van with sign stating Direct Furnishings Sales
Driver had white Polo with name on it DFS Courier , it looked fake logo..
Beware people, I didn’t buy any but yes, I was on walk and he kept following me to buy.. He was ready to give me King Size Memory foam decent quality mattress at 100£
Still I didn’t buy! and found this thread here.
For got mention in my comments it was silver color Van Reg number MF70OBA. I got him on CCTV van covered when he is on the move
This is an interesting one. I had a chap come to my house yesterday and pulled the exact same thing on me. However, I had his number and called back after googling the mattress and reading all these comments. He came back and gave me my money back. I don’t think it’s a scam really. It’s just a sales technique for them to flog mattresses. The mattress felt pretty good quality when I laid on it. I think these people are just trying to make a living. Why would he come and give me my money back if he was a scammer, he would have blocked me and not come back the next day.
I guess the only risk is, is it fire tested.
Embarrassed to say I fell for this. Paid by bank transfer so as soon as I realised (about half an hour later once I did some googling) I contacted my bank who started a fraud investigation and his bank locked his account. Amazing how quickly he got in touch once that happened. I got the money back and he picked up the mattress.
Patrick Fury 07833540956 White Van KV14XVE I think. “Carpets and Furnitures” on the side. Address and landline number is for a mailbox. Invoice has Burtex Beds & Furniture & Flooring.
Hi there, I am so embarrassed to say but I fell for this as well. The guy introduced him as Steve, van said ‘Complete Furniture’, selling Dura Beds. Very convincing, but a compulsive liar. After some googling, I reached out to my bank and reported it. He called me furiously on a Sunday – apparently the account of the secretary, called ‘Sharena’ got frozen. Her tesco delivery got cancelled, her car insurance needs to be paid, and the drivers cannot be paid out their bonus. Which business would use the private account of a secretary for transactions?
He came back, giving me the money back in cash, picked up the dodgy goods and keeps me harassing me know as he thinks it’s my fault that his account got frozen. He keeps messaging.
I looked up their web page for complete furniture and it’s shocking how bad it is. No legit business would go under such a ridiculous web page.
Stay away from it!
We have CCTV footage, anywhere I can share the CCTV footage with?
I have just been scammed by man in van. I was in need of new mattress and thought this was a good buy. What a fool I have been. Usually not so gullible. Could kick myself. What do I do with it now? I’m in county Durham area by the way.
Hi Kathleen
You may as well keep it. The chances are that the mattress meets UK regulations but it won’t necessarily be the specification that it claims to be, and certainly isn’t worth the value that they claimed. You’ve probably paid around what the mattress is worth.
I have just been scammed by a man claiming to had some mattresses left over after dropping from from a hotel. I paid 150 and did a bank transfer as had no cash and he gave me a fake invoice. Now I realised it was a scam and have checked inside and just looks like some cheap mattress filling and springs. I’m in the Gomersal area. He caught me on a walk and really pressurised me. I felt it was the only way to get him to leave me alone as felt quite vulnerable.
I don’t know why I bought mattresses from a guy that rocked up in a van. I feel like an absolute idiot as I probably should. He claimed the beds were worth £600 which it claimed to be on the bed label too. That should have been the first red flag. It also turns out it isn’t stitched but just stuck on to the bed. It did have the blue, white and black label but not sure if that has just been added on. I bought 2 mattresses for a total of £240 in cash so feel even more stupider. I don’t know what to do with them now. I don’t know if it safe to use them. I never thought I’d fall for a scam and now I don’t know what to do with the mattresses. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Hi Ravi
Unfortunately there is no guarantee that your mattresses don’t contain old spring units in them or meet the UK flammability regulations as these types of traders invariably cut corners to avoid unnecessary costs, so it is unlikely that they have had them independently tested. If you can live with that fact then it is really up to you whether or not to sleep on them. They won’t spontaneously combust.
Noooo! You’re not an idiot – it’s THEM, not you. I wrote a reply to another person on this chat line, which you may come across. Please do NOT think it’s you. The financial loss is horrible, but is less damaging than the assault on your feelings and perception of yourself. Do NOT think you are an idiot or to blame in any way. Take pride in the fact that you are a good and honest person and that you chose to trust someone, which is a lovely quality – people inherently want to believe in the goodness of others, and so we should; the fact that some nasty people try to take advantage of us is not our fault.
Beware of a white haired welshman around 5’10” last seen in Chagford, Devon selling double and kingsize beds and mattresses from a dark grey Citroen Relay van reg no MF22 BTE, he said he worked for Silverline in Swansea and was selling ex showhome furniture apparently.
Beware of a middle aged man with nothen accent, name “Dave” who works for Knightsbrige beds but doesn’t want you to call the company as he will get in trouble.
Knocked on the door and gave the story about neighbour cancelling order and now he needs to sell the matrasses that are inte the van. (white van, had 4 matrasses inside, did not get any other information as was too shocked at the bargain)
The name and company I only got after calling on nummber that was on business card. At first it would go trough a voice mail , that the number is not reachable. He called me back and said that he will exchange it for a firmer “orthopaedic” matress if I will not like this one.
However, I feel very stupid as ususally I do not engage with door to door or any salespersons. I paid 200£ in cash. I was in need for a mattress so obviously I wanted a bargain.
The part that got me worried was that after the exchange of goods, he told me he will call his collegue to see if there are any firmer matrasses in the warehouse and then he got in his van and quickly got away.
Be weary of these door to door salesmen, they can be very convincing.
The matress looks new and is in plastic wrap with cardbord edge covers. I simply feel stupid that I fell for this scam because the price was too good to be true.
It feels like when you go to market and there is some dodgy guy selling Gucci bag for 20£. You get the bag and you can use it to carry stuff, but the quality and safety is questionable.
Dave, knightsbirdge beds, last seen in london.
Beeston Nottingham, white van with no signage, just had a man in a blue polo shirt with a bed brand on it knock on door asking if I wanted a surplus Premier Inn mattress for a good price, both double and king size available. The man wasnt pushy and actually a pleasant demeanor. I never buy from the door due to scams, when I closed the door my wife asked what that was about, explained and she said she loves Premier Inn mattresses, that would have been nice… which shows its easy to get caught up in these things. I hope the man is legit, but not worth the risk.
Knightsbridge Luxury Marked White Van (Very Smart Van) – Working in the Reading Area trying same scam. – Geordie Accent – very pushy – Told to leave politely – Avoid
Just been done in Gaydon by this guy https://complete-furniture.co.uk/ £800 mattress for £300
Fell victim to this in Norwich on Friday 11th August 2023. Like others here I was completely taken in despite the fact I never buy anything on the doorstep normally, the two guys selling gave the usual story of excess stock and they had branded polo shirts and van so it all looked legit enough. It was only afterwards that I thought to look up the mattress brand of Dream Sleep and then came across this post. The mattress seems OK, it has a fire safety label and looks/feels decent enough but it’s clearly not worth what was claimed.
Hi I have just had a young man knock on my door trying to sell me a memory foam mattress,in the Lincoln area in a white van with the words Midlands Furniture on the side watch out people
A few details of person who scammed me this week
Male late 50s – early 60s. Polo shirt -delivery tabard, around 6ft, brown-grey hair, medium-large build. Seemed genuine -mr average. Gets you to focus on the high RRP on the mattress label so his price seems too good to refuse.
I asked for a receipt. He probably has different ones he gives out but the one I got- company name on there is BEDS DIRECT tel: 07551 418352
Theres also a manufacturer mentioned which goes with his business closing story:
Durest Beds Meadow Lane, Dewsbury, WF13 2BA. Then there’s also a different company name on his van! You only see all these anomalies in hindsight
His van was medium size white van – no picture, just simple lettering in maroon – ‘Premier Beds’ or something along those lines
I have seen ‘Premier Beds’ mentioned as being the name on the conman’s van several times in the comments. He’s probably been at this for years.
The mouldy mattress I got was an ‘Horizon Sleep’. On one side it has BAMBOO written repeatedly on the material.
Phone numbers aren’t answered or are dead
Thankfully I didn’t have him in the house.
Please don’t feel like a ‘mug’ – you are not! You are a decent human being who trusts in the good nature of other people. Being trusting is a wonderful quality – it only feels like you’re a ‘mug’ when some low-life plays on your trusting nature and does something really nasty, leaving you feeling awful and as if you have done something wrong. You have not! So so many of us fall for this, I’ve been a victim of nasty fraudulent behaviour too – more than once, I can assure you. And it is utterly horrible when you realise what has happened. My poor 82-year-old mum had this done to her a few months ago too, and she said she feels like a worthless idiot – I am soooo angry that these people cause so much misery and bad feeling. It’s a very cruel thing to do, and leaves you feeling stupid and ‘to blame’. I am so sorry that everyone on here has been subjected to this behaviour. The perpetrators are truly awful people who prey on people’s good nature and trusting personalities. Please don’t feel horrible about yourself. You’re NOT a mug. None of us are.
(Wirral) Fell hook line and sinker!!!! I never buy from the street, he’d just pulled away from a house and he shouted me as i walked down the road to my house,
I had been thinking of getting a new one – so bargain sounded good,
I should have known better? The story of company going bust next week, he was the manger and was just getting rid of stock before he had no job!!!! I’m fuming with myself. I went on line afterwards to see the comments on the brand and then came across your post! £1000 for £250!!!
Livid with myself!!! Lesson learnt – big girl pants on and off out to have a drink!!!!
Same thing attempted on me in Lincoln – Midlands Furniture, license plate WP68 WGW, calling himself ‘Sam’. Thnakfully my partner knows about this and tipped me off after I let her know.
Sadly I fell for this con. Mansfield Nottinghamshire. Bought from a lovely lad in a Furniture World van got written receipt
Same happened with me today, but seems he gave new one said its from complete furniture’s, I purchased two bed set with two mattresses, at least mattresses looks fine. but clearly its a scam as they come home and said that its ordered by your builder but that home is reserved so they can just give it in this price rest recovered from builders. Furniture quality is not that good but its not old one a new bed with head and drawer. Same guys above mentioned by Rich the compelete furniture two Diwan with headboard and two mattresses all King Size in 1000. not sure if its worth or scam or what.
I’ve was caught by this recently too – Complete Furniture (https://complete-furniture.co.uk/) is a scam – he’s known to Bed Advice and the National Bed Federation as a scammer who’s been active for several years.
The beds and mattresses he sells are nowhere close to the quality he told you they are, you can’t be sure that they meet all UK safety standards.
You need to report this to action fraud (https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/) right away, and raise a scam case with your bank – it’s unlikely the bank will be able to get your money back (he will have already transferred any funds to an offshore account). Still, at the very least the bank will freeze his accounts.
Like everyone else I feel like a total fool, having just paid out £265 for a double mattress that, even if it is the make it claims on the label (ha ha!), is retailing through Amazon at £165 for a king size ( and that could be a scam too!).
The new van is white labelled ‘Comfort Dreams’ from Batley, W Yorkshire and is (was) in Lytham St Annes this morning. Of course it looked legit as did the guy in his logoed polo shirt, who had all the chat – ‘stock left over from a bed exhibition in Blackpool & boss has told him to sell them off at 70% discount’ – how could I fall for that? But I did – I even accepted a lift to the cashpoint – mugged without a weapon!