Letters to The Gl@zine

Here follows emails which we have received addressed to The Gl@zine which we would like to share with a wider audience. Links to them still appear on and get sent out on The Gl@zine every week - http://www.theglazine.com

Sloppy Journalism Gives Industry a Bad Name

They say any publicity is good publicity, but while I support the exposure the national media gives to con men and rogue traders I don’t support sloppy journalism in the ‘red top’ tabloids or anywhere. Last Wednesday (November 28 2007) the Daily Mirror devoted the best part of a page to the story of two cowboy builders who the police were seeking in connection with a tarmac and re-paving job. The pair, who the Police say have links with the travelling community, had persuaded an 89 year old lady into handing over £171,000 for a job that should have cost £12,000 and now needs a further £12,000 to repair.

It’s a worthwhile story, and the public does need to be put on its guard against such dishonest scams. But the Daily Mirror also pictures one of the business cards the con men were using to promote themselves. It lists tarmac and paving, all types of groundwork and roofing as well as cladding and roofline, and – you’ve guessed it – a mobile phone number, which the paper has carefully blocked out, and a clearly visible Freefoam logo. The card is not mentioned in the editorial but is presumably included to imply that the crooks had used it to give them credibility.

Call me suspicious, and we are trying to get the paper to confirm the details, but we are investigating the possibility that the paper or the journalist sexed up the story by fabricating the business card and adding our logo.

These types of stories keep recurring. The truly deplorable part is the willingness of companies to continue supplying people like this with products. Cash in hand may satisfy some suppliers but the homeowner, the industry in general, and the tax-man are losers. Criminality is rewarded while reputable companies are tainted.

Yours sincerely

Tony Walsh
Managing Director
Freefoam Plastics Ltd