A cancer-stricken pensioner was cautioned by police after staging a sit-in protest at the premises of a Glenrothes heating firm.
Colin Cookson has been repeatedly turning up at the offices of Future Scotland since the start of December to demand the return of his deposit after he cancelled an order for a gas heating system.
The 72-year-old, who is battling stomach cancer and has heart problems, was accused of being abusive by staff at the Newark Road South premises and police officers turned up at around 2.30pm on Tuesday.
Mr Cookson said he had been penalised for standing up for his rights.
“They’ve given me a caution for coming and asking for my money back,” he said.
The retired scaffolding contractor insists he is due all of the £995 he paid before cancelling work on a new heating system five days into a 14-day cooling off period.
Future Scotland initially refunded £500 of the total but by Tuesday Mr Cookson was still waiting for the remaining £495.
The company has now given an assurance that he will be paid back in full.
Mr Cookson said he would give up his protest when he was certain the money was in his account.
“I’ve been getting lies since the beginning of December,” he added.
Future Scotland, which is run by Alistair Galloway and Thomas Gibson, is subject to a striking off proposal according to Companies House.
The directors are listed under another active company called Future Scotland Gas.
Mr Galloway said: “We set up two companies.
“Future Scotland Gas is still trading and still working.”
He said Mr Cookson’s refund had been processed, adding: “We have hundreds of customers and there are always going to be people who are unhappy. We have hundreds of happy customers.”
Mr Cookson was not the only dissatisfied client who turned up at Future Scotland’s offices on Tuesday.
Margaret Beattie, 64, had driven from Lochmaben in Dumfries and Galloway to ask why she had not received a £5,000 refund.
Mrs Beattie said she had a battery to store solar energy installed by the company on October 4 last year but was dissatisfied with the work, claiming her downstairs sockets were left disconnected.
She asked for the system to be removed within the 14-day period and it was taken away.
“I’ve come here because I’m so fed up of all the excuses I have had,” she said.
“They told me they sent a cheque to the wrong address.
“I’ve phoned I think four times and written a detailed explanation of the problems, but they’ve never acknowledged this.”
A member of staff at the premises later said the situation had been resolved and Mrs Beattie would receive her refund.
