A Croydon plumber who refused to charge a vulnerable pensioner after she was scammed out of £7,000 by a cowboy tradesman has returned to her home with a bouquet of flowers. Carl Wilson, owner of plumbing and heating service Jobsa Gooden, was 'disgusted' by the scam and wanted to show the woman that not all tradespeople are dishonest.
Kind Gesture
Carl visited the woman, named Sue, in Tooting last month and later returned with flowers. In a video, Sue asks 'why?' and Carl replies that he thought it would be a 'nice gesture.' Sue invites him in, saying 'that is so sweet of you.' Carl had previously said he knew he wouldn't charge Sue, as the job was simple—removing boards and tying a nut.
Friendship Blooms
The video shows the two chatting as Carl finishes the work. He asked how she was, and Sue mentioned enjoying coffee at a local park cafe. Carl insisted on not charging, even when Sue wanted to pay. He said, 'It's a pleasure, I'm so glad I've changed your mind on how you see tradesmen. I'm so grateful I've met you.' He added, 'Anything you need in your house, you can ring me.' They shared a warm hug, and Carl later reflected that some things are 'much more important than money.'
Disgust at Scam
Carl expressed disbelief that anyone could rip off a vulnerable person. 'I can't understand how another person could do that,' he said. 'They didn't just charge her £7,000, they also did a terrible job. I could never be that person. I was brought up better than that.' He called the scammer a 'scumbag' and emphasized the importance of honesty in the trades.
Carl, a 43-year-old dad of two, started his plumbing and heating career at 35 after being a semi-professional footballer. He hopes his actions restore trust in tradespeople and encourage others to act with integrity.
