Cold Callers

People should respect your wishes, no doubt about it. Having said that, unfortunately most of the salesmen depend on sales and have no basic salary. Desperation is a terrible thing and probably is to blame for the lack of respect for your wishes

Oriel that was one reason why I had a video system installed so I could see who was at the front door and speak to them without opening the door. I live on my own and find this safer.

You were right to be suspicious. Whenever I get one of these salesmen I always say I never buy anything at the door. When someone tried to sell me fish from his van, told him I don't buy from vans - he asked me how I thought my food got to the supermarket! Also had one of those ex-prisoners call. Told him I didn't buy at the door, he insisted on unloading his bag, kept telling him I wasn't interested, when he finally got the message he gave a huge sigh muttered something under his breath and left. I did feel very uncomfortable for a while because of his attitude. With the Air Ambulance I asked for the address, checked it online and then sent a cheque.

Yes, I think a sneaky look out of the window in future would be on the cards Charley. The thing is when someone comes to the door my dog goes ballistic and alerts the caller to the fact that I'm in as I have to corral said dog into the lounge to go to the door to check who's there.

The reason I posted was because I'd just had one of the ex-offenders call - he looked really fed up and I felt for him but I really didn't want him to offload his enormous holdall and make me feel cornered into buying something that I neither want nor need. When I told him I didn't want anything he gave me such a look - I felt really bad. Then when I thought about it I began to realise that if they choose to call, despite the notice, then they have to realise they'll be turned away... didn't make me feel good about it though.

sunseeker did your fish man have a really lairy hat on - a sort of multi-coloured peruvian type thing?

A few years ago, where I used to live, we had a spate of daytime burglaries. Afterwards the police issued all the householders with a package that contained special marker pens and a sticker which said I don't buy anything on my doorstep and underneath it stated this had been issued by the local police. I stuck it right above my door bell at eye level. It still didn't stop the cold callers.

The ex convict salesmen that knock on my door are practically on first name terms with my OH.
I have enough crap tea towels and dusters to last a life time, and they're not used!

One of those that came to my door was after getting people to sign up to pay by direct debit to a charity for deaf children. I told him that I didn`1t have that sort of bank account, the truth at the time, so I couldn`t do it, he said "Oh, go back inside and put your feet up then, don`t worry about the deaf children!" My flabber has never been so gasted!

I just don't answer the door anymore, just watch them leave or occassionally look the house over before leaving. Recently one charity worker (well known dog charity) who decided to wander round the side of the house was given a shock when I asked him what he thought he was doing.

I just say fairly politely; 'I am sorry but I do not buy on the doorstep.' Surprisingly so far this has always elicited a courteous acceptance and departure.

I am so sick of them now, I have a sign it says "No cold callers.... we do not answer the door". They walk past the front room window they see me in, they see the sign and they knock.... and i sit there and dont answer - if they look through the window they get a sign (use your imagination here).

In the past i used to open the door but being polite and saying No doesnt work on them - I think the age of the polite door to door salesperson has ended (well it has round here)!

You do not have to answer your door. If you have a sign up they should respect that and not knock on your door. I do wish people would stop buying from them, then they wouldnt come round any more!

Yes, I have one of those No Cold Caller signs and I think they do put people off calling. The other day someone came collecting and I didn't say a word, just pointed to the sign. He was falling over himself apologizing "ooh sorry luv, didn't notice it" and he shot off down the path.
With nuisance phone calls I was always advised not to just hang up, but say to the caller, "just a moment" then put the handset down on the table. This would block the line so he couldn't make any more calls. I'm not sure that still applies nowadays, as everything is different.
We are entitled to our privacy.

I have this sign from Money saving expert- still doesn't stop them all but most take notice- those who don't get a lesson in reading!
*No cold callers!
the consumer protection from unfair trading regulations, 2008
we won’t buy from you!
we don’t need any advice!
please leave and do not return. failure to do so is a criminal offence.
charity or religious group? please don’t knock either.*

I'm always polite to whoever decides the no cold callers notice doesn't apply to them but I have noticed lately that I'm not treated courteously in return.

Just out of interest does anyone know what organisation the ex-offenders belong to. The guy had an ID card and said he was doing it to enable him to get another job. To be honest I didn't take in what he was saying because my mind was busy thinking how to shut the door without being rude.

Last time I was in the UK I had a fisherman call and as we are near the sea I presumed he was selling fresh fish. I went to go with him to his van then I learnt it was a box of frozen fish so I declined,

Reading this blog I realise this is new door to door franchise business and the guy was a fisherman in the very loosest sense of the word,

I hate cold callers too. I'm fine on the phone but rubbish face to face. Except on one occasion when a 'save the seals' person wouldn't leave me alone. I finally snapped and said if he didn't go away I would fly over to Canada and personally club a seal cub to death.

lol beeliane (presuming it was 2 fingered salute lol

I very rarely open the door these days... my friends know the protocol and come round the back and normally txt "are you in" ? so if anyone knocks on the front door I know it is an uninvited person (normally)!

The one BIG problem I do have is...I cannot see whos at my front door because of how the property is built..I dont have a window that looks out over the door.I have thought of a camera but this means its constantly on running in the background but maybe it food for thought.

ajeanla That's exactly what I thought. We live near the sea too and I wrongly assumed that the fish for sale would have been local. I too went to the van and realised that everything was boxed and frozen. I told the guy that I wasn't interested but he said he'd be doing his rounds in a couple of weeks and would ask me again then...

I'll be on my guard next time!

There are a lot of " without being rude" on these posts. Be rude. They are rude knocking when you have asked them not to. I used to say "I don' t buy on the doorstep" until one chap said " Where do you buy then? Round the back, through the window?" Now if I bother to answer the door it is a curt " No thank you" and I close the door Seems to work.

I recognise the religious ones as they tend to arrive in our area in a big group. They are dressed in suits (men) or hideous droopy skirts for the women. I just don't open the door. I certainly would not give my bank details to a bod who arrives at the door looking for a charity donation. We've had the fish man. He sells in bulk, so no good for a couple. We get young men trying to get us to change our power supplier. It's so annoying. There is not a day goes by that we don't have someone trying to sell stuff. The latest was a company who insulated walls. We actually wanted this done, so gave them the job. I do feel like a sitting target, with all these salesmen though. At least the gypsies have stopped calling. They must have given our area up as a bad job because nobody ever wanted their driveway done!

The only time I've signed up to something at the door is Hello Fresh - and that has been very successful. Otherwise it is a firm 'no thank you' which thankfully has always been accepted. I find cold callers on the telephone far worse - and more rude!

I don't generally answer the door unless I'm expecting someone.

The door to door charity people are often desperate people who can't find any other work. They get a very basic wage but get extra if they go over a target of direct debits. There was a kerfuffle last year when it was realised some charities some charities were selling addresses of donors on. There probably are some real ex-cons selling domestic stuff door to door but a lot of it seems to be highly organised, eg dropped off in groups and collected at the end of the day. I feel sorry for both groups ... but don't answer the door.

That is the difficulty with so many issues, you feel desperately sorry for those involved and know they are probably being exploited but need to protect yourself from being exploited as well.

The ones that annoy me are those that start off, as soon as you open the door, with a big smile and a charm offensive, introducing themselves and going straight into their spiel without taking breath. I always interrupt and ask "are you selling something? Because if you are I'm not interested." They invariably say they're not . So I ask if they are from a religious group and they say no. "Why then", I ask them, "are you trying to engage me in conversation if you are neither trying to convert me or trying to get me to part with some money? Just knocking on people's doors to be friendly? I don't think so!"
And with that I close the door on them. I've even had some stay there continuing to talk at me, louder, after the door's been shut!!!