A cleaning company boss has denied carpet bagging elderly customers by luring them in with a special offer price and then charging them much more.

Adam Vallier told a jury he and his self-employed cleaners always explained all extra charges before carrying out work at homes across Devon.

He said customers were all sent an appointment card which made it clear that the £19 offer was for a ’maintenance clean’ of two carpets and that any further work would cost more.

He also denied he and his staff had carried out work without giving clients a chance to cancel during their statutory two week cooling off period.

Vallier, aged 34, of Hennington Road, Pokesdown, Bournemouth denies four counts of fraud, one of misleading customers, and two of converting criminal property.

His two companies, A Star and Premier Carpet Cleaning, also deny a total of four counts of fraud and one of misleading customers.

The prosecution allege he used the £19 or £20 special offer as bait to lure in customers who were then charged up to £449 for ’deep cleaning’ and the use of supposedly specialist fluids and techniques.

The jury have been told the total income of the two companies in 2014 to 2016 was £487,000 but out of 1,650 customers, only 68 actually paid the £19 or £20 which was promised in the ’special offer’.

One customer in Teignmouth was charged £449, an 86-year-old woman from Newton Abbot was charged £150 and others from Exmouth and Paignton £240 and £300.

Vallier said he worked as a carpet cleaner for other companies before setting up his own business so he could support his family after marrying and having two children.

He said his tele sales staff, which included his mother, used a script which made it clear that the £19 offer was for a ’maintenance clean’ only and there was no attempt to deceive customers.

He said: ’They have to let them know. The whole thing is about letting the customer know this is a maintenance clean. They have to say it is a maintenance clean.

’It is a way of promoting the company and producing residual business. The idea is that those who have the £19 clean will come back later, so it keeps the business going.

’We are saying: "We are here and willing to do another job for you". It was not a way of trying to get through the door and then do additional work.

’When we made the appointment we have as much information as possible to a customer. The card we sent explained we also offered other services.’

The trial continues.