How expensive can cleaning a drain pipe be? Very expensive! An elderly lady in Zirl had to experience that these days. Now the police are investigating on suspicion of usury. It is not the first time that this has happened in Tyrol in recent weeks.
Anyone who blatantly takes advantage of someone’s predicament and spends horrendous bills disproportionate to the value of the service rendered is committing usury. That’s what the law says. In the case in Zirl, the police believe that this is the case.
What happened? A few days ago, an 81-year-old searched the Internet for the address of an installer. A drain pipe was blocked in the woman’s home. The retiree found what she was looking for and hired a company over the phone. She was there quickly and repaired the damage.
Requires a multiple of the usual price
The service provider demanded no less than 800 euros for his work, a multiple of what is normally charged for such a job. The Tyrolean paid at first, but then turned against the police. The investigation is underway.
The current case is somewhat reminiscent of the couple in Telfs, who paid more than 3,000 euros at the beginning of August for an emergency in the toilet. The victims had also paid the amount at the time, but contacted the police a little later.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
