A Croydon plumber has shared the 'best feeling' after refusing to charge a 'really vulnerable' pensioner who was swindled out of £7,000 by a dishonest tradesman. Carl Wilson, 43, a father of two and owner of Jobsa Gooden, a plumbing and heating service, was 'disgusted' with the 'scumbag' who targeted the elderly woman in Tooting last month.
How the Scam Unfolded
The pensioner's neighbour contacted Carl for help. She explained that the woman had been 'messed about' by several people and needed a trusted tradesman. Upon arriving, Carl found the 'nervous' woman at the door. She recounted how she had been ripped off, and Carl immediately decided not to charge her.
'I knew from the start I wasn't charging her,' he said. The job was simple, requiring board removal and a nut tied. The pensioner admitted her trust in people entering her home was 'completely gone.' Carl added: 'I thought if I can change that or help to change that, it would be amazing. She was really vulnerable.'
A Plumber's Journey from Football to Entrepreneurship
Carl's path to becoming a plumber began at age 35, after his semi-professional football career and 'wheeler dealer' lifestyle ended. He faced a major hurdle: he could barely read or write, reading 'like a five-year-old.' He started delivery driving, working 11-hour days from 4am for just £350 a week, but knew he needed a change. After shifts, he met a friend who was a gas engineer, sparking his interest.
To gain experience, Carl worked for free for five months, eventually landing paid work at £70 per day. With a 'hustler' mindset, he launched his own company during the pandemic. Jobsa Gooden was born, and Carl says he 'hasn't looked back since.'
The Emotional Impact of Helping
Carl described the feeling as indescribable. 'I got a message from the lady upstairs that she was nearly in tears, and for me it's the smallest gesture. I love to make people feel good about themselves. How it made me feel is exactly why I do things like that.'
Condemning the Scammers
Carl cannot understand how anyone could rip off someone so vulnerable. 'If I do a job wrong, I go back and make sure it's right. They didn't just charge her £7,000, they also did a terrible job. I could never be that person. It's disgusting. Being an honest person, especially in trading, goes a long way.' He called the perpetrators 'scumbags' and 'scam artists,' not true tradesmen.
Encouragement for Others
Carl offered advice to those facing challenges like his: 'Keep going. Take steps forward and keep going. The problem most people have is they want to learn something and don't understand it straight away, so they stop and start again.'
