Unwanted door knockers?

Unwanted door knockers?

Author
Discussion

Mercdriver

Original Poster:

2,615 posts

40 months

Tuesday 3rd September
quotequote all
I live on a street mainly elderly residents, get pestered by every chancer, gardener, roofer, paving companies etc. lady across road had travelling people offering to repair roof, they went into loft and produced maggots so wanted a huge sum to repair. An elderly woman who is partially sighted was persuaded to let two people into house to help her search for money to pay them for gardening work up front. Police called and they were arrested, probably got community service doing the gardening for elderly people smile

I have printed and supplied a notice to anyone who wants it to display on front door stating no unwanted callers in big print.

Oh no that does not stop the clowns, today it was someone offering to buy antiques! Gave him a hard time And he was not pleased, tough, you knock on door without reading notice you take what you get.

Is this typical of 2024?

BunkMoreland

1,012 posts

14 months

Tuesday 3rd September
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Theres always been dodgy door to door salespeople.

Years ago, my now diseased grandmother, had someone convince her to allow him to quote for a new kitchen. It was obvious to anyone this lady in her 80s was not really with it and able to make those sort of decisions. But sales fker was happy to try and railroad her into a "deal"!

Thankfully by that point my Mum had power of attorney and there was ZERO cash or cards in her flat, and the sales guy was asked to leave and reconsider how he assesses potential purchasers in future.

My Dad has a similar sign on his front door, sorts most out, but he got one the other day and he was suitably abrupt with the guy.

Have to confess when he told me the story a few days later, I was worried it was a distraction thing, where the "seller" has an accomplice go round the back of the house to have a rummage. But that time it appears to have just been a moron not seeing a sign and trying to sell stty artwork. Quite why they chose the most run down looking house on the street, with the oldest car by a margin, I dont know! biggrin

OldPal

88 posts

147 months

Tuesday 3rd September
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All the time, stickers regarding cold calls are just ignored as they come looking for thier next victim. Usually 3.14 keys.

Caught one chancer on my doorbell parking in my drive as he chapped all the houses in my street

Spare tyre

10,333 posts

137 months

Tuesday 3rd September
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We live in a bungalow surrounded by old folk, continual a door knocks from iffy sorts

My folks live just around the corner in a new house, never a knock

I just say it’s rented and they can’t ps off quick enough


Glassman

23,108 posts

222 months

Tuesday 3rd September
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Cold callers, leaflet droppers and spammers etc all need to get in the sea.


119

9,480 posts

43 months

Tuesday 3rd September
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You could always get a handful of those ‘no cold callers’ stickers from Amazon and offer to stick them on their front doors.

Worked a treat at one of our old houses.

John D.

18,482 posts

216 months

Tuesday 3rd September
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Not sales or charity people, but have had Nottingham knockers twice in the last 6 months. Same issue with lots of elderly people round here which I expect can be ripe pickings.

mac96

4,412 posts

150 months

Tuesday 3rd September
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I suspect these stickers actually advertise presence of a vulnerable person, so while they will discourage decent cold callers etc, the real sts nay actually be attracted to them

Monkeylegend

27,191 posts

238 months

Tuesday 3rd September
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On our Nextdoor website yesterday a lady posted a notice she had put on her door for that very thing.

Basically she said she charges £10 a minute to talk to cold callers and she needs an upfront deposit of £50 as soon as she opens the door.

She said she considers this a binding contract and by knocking on her door they accept those terms.

She is now waiting to see if this deters them but she had a good response from other posters.

And I didn't makes this up hehe

CammyN

238 posts

6 months

Tuesday 3rd September
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You are only obliged to open the door to the Police, If it is anyone else I don't go to the door, sod 'em.

lancslad58

1,099 posts

15 months

Tuesday 3rd September
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Buy a couple of huge plastic joke dog poo, say size that comes out of an Alsatian and leave then on the path outside the front door.

nuyorican

1,807 posts

109 months

Tuesday 3rd September
quotequote all
You have to open the door to the police? Really? Well I never knew that. What if you were asleep or had headphones on? Would you be committing an offence?

Edited by nuyorican on Tuesday 3rd September 18:25

573

392 posts

208 months

Tuesday 3rd September
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From what I can tell from looking at misjudged, grey interior decor in 'executive homes' on Right Move, the thing to do is attach them to the back of over-sized dining chairs.

Dave.

7,512 posts

260 months

Tuesday 3rd September
quotequote all
nuyorican said:
You have to open the door to the police? Really? Well I never knew that. What if you were asleep or had headphones on? Would you be committing an offence?

Edited by nuyorican on Tuesday 3rd September 18:25
It’s ok, they’ve got their own key in case you don’t hear them.

robbieduncan

1,987 posts

243 months

Tuesday 3rd September
quotequote all
We live in a designated No Cold Calling Zone (https://publicprotectionpartnership.org.uk/trading-standards/no-cold-calling-zones/)

Perhaps look into asking the Police/Council about getting one set up? They have no real teeth (unfortunately) but if everyone toes the line and points it out to every single cold caller they pretty much all go away

CammyN

238 posts

6 months

Wednesday 4th September
quotequote all
nuyorican said:
You have to open the door to the police? Really? Well I never knew that. What if you were asleep or had headphones on? Would you be committing an offence?

Edited by nuyorican on Tuesday 3rd September 18:25
All depends on why the Police were knocking on your door. If they believe that you could be disposing of drugs as they wait or committing further crimes then you are likely to find them entering your property, even if you are peaceably playing with your rubber duck and listening to Baby Shark.

Doo doo doo doo


Speaking of sharks, HMRC officers have the right to force entry to your house with a Court order, they can insist that you open the door if they have a warrant.



vikingaero

11,190 posts

176 months

Wednesday 4th September
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You can get rid of a lot of door knockers by telling them that you rent. Any salesman offering anything fixtures and fittingswise such as double glazing, fascias, conservatories, garden landscaping know they won't get a sale if they have the hassle of contacting a landlord.

Another good one is your broadband. Just tell them that you are with BT/Virgin/EE etc because you work for them and pay £6 per month for full fibre.

Utilities is a bit harder because most of them have tablets with access to what company and tariff each household is on. I just normally say that my landlord would like me to stay with my current provider and he's a really good landlord and I wouldn't want to pish him off.

steveo3002

10,658 posts

181 months

Wednesday 4th September
quotequote all
leaflet the street telling them not to open the door and enter into conversation unless its an expected visitor

i have to drum it into my mother that its okay to be rude , otherwise its " oh i just see what they want and say no "

John D.

18,482 posts

216 months

Wednesday 4th September
quotequote all
vikingaero said:
You can get rid of a lot of door knockers by telling them that you rent. Any salesman offering anything fixtures and fittingswise such as double glazing, fascias, conservatories, garden landscaping know they won't get a sale if they have the hassle of contacting a landlord.

Another good one is your broadband. Just tell them that you are with BT/Virgin/EE etc because you work for them and pay £6 per month for full fibre.

Utilities is a bit harder because most of them have tablets with access to what company and tariff each household is on. I just normally say that my landlord would like me to stay with my current provider and he's a really good landlord and I wouldn't want to pish him off.
I just say 'no thanks' and shut the door. Seems to do the trick.

Zaichik

284 posts

43 months

Wednesday 4th September
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My wife constantly angered by these people, she now takes out her phone and photographs those that really bother her and tells them she shares the photos with the police.
Doesn’t seem to stop them but does make some of them quite alarmed especially the charity types.