West Auckland woman furious at Scottish Power cold caller's remarks

Sophie Brodie had only just received the devastating news that her dad, Ian Brodie, 61, had been found dead by police at his supported living accommodation in Gateshead.

Twenty minutes later, two Scottish Power sales reps arrived at her home, trying to sign her up.

The two cold callers at Sophie's home (Image: PROVIDED)

While the 23-year-old was sitting in tears telling family members her dad had died, her partner politely turned the sales reps away.

But after the door closed, one of the reps was caught on a doorbell camera, appearing to dismiss the heartbreaking explanation for why Sophie and her partner did not want to speak.

In the footage, Sophie's partner can be heard saying: "Not the time at the minute mate, we have just found out a family member has died."

The male representative replies: "Sorry to hear that mate," before the pair walk away.

Seconds later, the woman representative is heard saying: "People just come out with that s**t like (inaudible), then he was like 'oh my wife has just died'..."

The rest can't be heard as they walk away from her home.

Scottish Power said it is investigating and offered its condolences to the family.

Sophie, of Melrose Drive in St Helen Auckland, said the comments were "a punch in the gut" as she'd already been struggling with the loss of her mum, Sharron Brodie, last June, aged 51.

Sophie added: "I had just finished my work placement as a student nurse and had just got home when the police turned up. They had told me my dad was found dead and I just remember being in utter shock.

"Not long after they left there was a knock at the door and my partner answered as I was in no fit state, still crying my eyes out.

Sophie's dad Ian Brodie, 61, who died in July this year and mum Sharron Brodie, 51, who died in June last year (Image: PROVIDED)

"He told them, politely, it wasn't the time as we had just been told a family member had died and turned them away.

"We thought that was the end of it, but later I realised my Ring doorbell camera had recorded them after they left, and that's when I heard what was said.

"I was already in a pretty bad way mentally as my mum had only died last March and I still don't feel I had fully processed or grieved her because she was my best friend.

"Then to hear someone be so disrespectful and minimise something that is so devastating to me was a punch in the gut.

"It just shouldn't have been said at all.

"I have had no apology from Scottish Power or the girl.

"I have always said if you have nothing nice to say, just don't say it at all.

"I am sure they would have been able to hear me crying from outside because when they turned up I was on the phone to my auntie telling her that her little brother was dead.

"Not everyone has a happy home and it doesn't take much to be respectful when you are standing at someone's door, especially that late into the evening."

Sophie and her dad Ian, when they were both younger (Image: PROVIDED)

Her dad had lived across the UK, including Preston, and Chester-le-Street where Sophie and her sister were born. He had most recently been living in Gateshead.

Sophie, who has just completed her first year of nursing training at Teesside University, said losing her dad so soon after her mum had been devastating.

She said: "I hadn't seen my dad for quite some time as we disagreed on a lot of his views, but at the end of the day he was my dad.

"With losing my mum not so long ago it hit me like a ton of bricks.

"At the age of 23 I shouldn't have to organise funerals for both my parents. It's just awful. You just never expect it at this age.

"My mum was my best friend, and we spoke about absolutely everything. After she had issues with her health, she always said I needed to become a nurse to look after people like her and make their experiences more pleasant."

Sophie, who has two children, said she has since spent almost every day visiting her father in the chapel of rest to "make up for the six years she missed".

Sophie's 'best friend' her mum Sharron Brodie, who died aged 51, when Sophie was 22 (Image: PROVIDED)

A Scottish Power spokesman said: "Our sincere condolences go to the family for their loss and for any additional distress caused by the comments heard in the video.

"They do not reflect the standards of professionalism, respect and empathy we expect from anyone representing ScottishPower, and we are investigating the incident. We will take any appropriate action based on the findings."

The company said the representative heard in the video works for a third-party supplier and is not a direct employee.