No cold caller signs

[EuphemiaLennox]

I have out put up a no cold caller sign by my front door.

I did this because I was fed up of having to repeatedly stop whatever I was doing and answer my front door to people selling things, collecting for charity, asking if I wanted new windows or buy horse manure etc etc.

I think it has minimised the numbers calling but a few obviously don't notice it, or don't check first and still ring the bell.

This has happened twice in the past week and when I've answered the door and they've launched into their intro I've interupted and said ' I'm sorry I don't accept cold callers' and pointed out the sign, and on both occasions I've had quite unpleasant reactions from them.

One was selling something, not sure what, and told me to get lost. I asked who he worked for and said his rudeness was unjustified , he told me he worked for himself so I could shove it.

The second was collecting for a charity for liver failure for children. When he called I was in my office, (I work from home) in a meeting with a client, I had to break off and answer the door, I again stopped him mid intro and pointed out my sign and said I was actually working right now. He then kind of sneered at me, curled up his lip and walked off shaking his head.

I felt a bit shaken, and this has played on my mind, as I was 'off'with someone collecting for what was no doubt an important cause, and he obviously thought me a hard nosed bitch.

BUT he knocked on my door, of my home, unsolicited, where there was a sign if he'd looked saying I didn't want him to, he'd interrupted my working day and invaded my choice of how I spend my time in my own home.

How does anyone else deal with cold callers?

AIBU to cut them off and point out my sign, even if they are collecting for charity?

Should I just get a bigger sign?

[LaurieFairyCake]

I don't have a sign. I do open the door in case it's someone delivering a d if its a cold caller I just say 'no thanks' and immediately shut the door.

I wouldn't give them long enough to me.

[LaurieFairyCake]

Long enough to be rude to me!

[QuietNinjaTardis]

I've got a no cold callers sign on my door which has been ignored twice by salesmen. I've just said no thanks and shut the door again. I've also watched Jehovah's witnesses walk down my path and see the sign and turn around and go away so it does work. Think you might have just had some bad luck.
Have you checked its at eye level? I stuck mine on the door then had to move it as when I actually stood outside it was at completely the wrong level for people to see straight away as I have a step going down from my front door.

[ImNotaPheasantPlucker]

I take the dog with me (loony spaniel) and hold his collar like he will viciously shred the caller and it's only me stopping it (!). Then point to the sign and close the door.

Oh, they hate that!

[SpicyPear]

YANBU. I do the same as Laurie. Open, clock who it is, if anything other than delivery, political canvasser or neighbour they get a very cheerful "No thanks" (with what I hope is a slightly creepy manic looking grin) and then I immediately shut the door.

[AnitaManeater]

YANBU. Get a bigger sign and maybe CCTV for you door if it's really frequent?I have a nice big sign that says 'no religious sects, no leaflets, no cold callers - please respect our privacy' and it works. I quite get off on watching people walk up the path, read said sign and shuffle off.

[Nancy66]

I live in an offical 'no cold calling' area - with signs on lamposts but makes no difference.

I just say 'Not for me thanks' or something similar and just shut the door. No chat, no negotation.

[WorraLiberty]

I always say a firm 'no thank you' and close the door

And in the 22yrs since I left my parent's house, I've only had trouble once with a cold caller getting stroppy.

Perhaps you have bad luck?

[perceptionreality]

YANBU

You don't ever have to open the door if you don't want to. It annoys me that some people seem to think that you have an obligation to open the door just because they're knocking on it.

[EuphemiaLennox]

I think my sign is probably not obvious enough. I'll address this.

It's just the shakingnofnthe head because I didn't give to charity that's really got to me.

Oh, I also remember months ago, the Christian aid lady came around when I was bathing thenchikdrennto 'collect her enevelope' I was rather short with her pointed out the sign, but then felt bad for ages as I'm been rude to the Christian aid lady!!

But collecting for charity doesn't give you rights to invade propels privacy though does it??

[Bunbaker]

"You don't ever have to open the door if you don't want to. It annoys me that some people seem to think that you have an obligation to open the door just because they're knocking on it."

I once knocked on a neighbour's door because their pet guinea pigs had escaped and were running about on the road. Should I not have bothered then?

[amazingmumof6]

YANBU

it does my head in

I opened the door once 8 months pregnant with youngest in arm, older wailing in the background. the guy started going on about the importance of sport and some and asked if I'd like to join his Karate club....WTF????!

I said, I'm sorry, but I'm heavily pregnant and I'm not interested. at this point he said but maybe someone else in the family?

oh you mean my baby or my toddler? I mean seriously?! he git quite aggressive when I told them to not bother my 2 immediate neighbours as they are elderly and ill and will not appreciate being disturbed either...

just 2 weeks ago I was in a shit mood already, opened the door, then shoved it in the strangers face, don't even let him say a word. I was rude, but for ffs it was after 6pm, I was busy with kids dinner, homework, phone calls, baby plus really unwell and I don't want double glazing - we have it already!

get an intercom so they can talk to you

get a camera so you can see who's at the door

get a bigger sign and list who is welcome - and state that you do reverse trick or treating, unwelcome people who are not on the list will get the door shoved on them

the charity things is tricky, but just tell him that if you don't work you can't give any to charity either, waste of time is not productive.

[hatchypom]

My favourite cold call was a deaf man who didn't read my sign, I then signed to him and he replied Sony you support deaf people to which I answered yes, most of my family

[hermioneweasley]

No, collecting for charity doesn't permit you to be rude to people who don't donate. I am sure you know that really!

[amazingmumof6]

or just quickly dip your hands in ketchup and say that you'll buy their silence if they help you move the body first....

[BattlingFanjos]

I have had several arsey cold callers. One tried to come in and use my loo and when I said no he tried to barge his way in until my (then) boyfriend came to the door and told him to piss off. Another was two women collecting for charity and when I said no one of them lost it swearing at me telling me I was sick and insensitive. I just shut the door. I have a fair amount of cold folders even with a sign and a lot who are very rude

[hatchypom]

Am clearly incapable of typing that should read sorry don't you support ....

[Yama]

Well, I'm at work during the day and evenings are either "I'm busy feeding the children" or "I'm bathing the children".

Same with phonecalls.

Evenings are BUSY. So, people - just leave me alone.

Don't seem to get bothered at the weekend.

[CredulousThicko]

No cold callers signs to print off at MSE, here:

www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/no-more-junk
including no religious callers/charity callers

I don't open the door. I look out of the front window to see who it is, then shake my head and politely say 'no thank you' through the (closed) window, then walk away back into the house. This avoids confrontation and doesn't give anyone the chance to be arsey.

[amazingmumof6]

bunbaker yes, of course a neighbour who needs help or in your case offering help is not going to be unwelcome,!
OP says it's the fact that cold callers (strangers) disturb her despite a sign asking not to. so they are rude, not op!

would I go into an airport "unauthorized personnel" area? or and operating theatre with "do not enter"or a studio with a sign"quiet, On air"?

no, because by way of a sign I'm asked not to, but also because I could be prosecuted/cause a health hazard or other problems!

just because someone is home it doesn't mean they are available, and that should be recognized and respected!

[amazingmumof6]

oh a friend and I had a giggle about possible ways to deal with cold callers on the phone:

1., as soon as they stop talking you say sorry, can you repeat that I wasn't listening or you can't understand. then again, and again until they hang up

1. say that you have a problem coz you don't know which shoes you should wear tonight and just talk over them - I'm thinking the red high heels, but they can get a bit uncomfortable so I might go with the slingbacks, oh but they don't match my cardigan, blah blah blah-----
   

1. say are you married? can I have your number? a friend of mine is desperate to get a date, do you mind meeting them? you sound like a lovely person, vrey straightforward, they would love that----

[fluffyraggies]

I once answered the door in a state of happy anticipation thinking it was the Avon woman with my lipstick (sad, i know). I listened, smiling broadly, while she went on about cats (mine was on the doorstep) but i think we were both as as each other when she said:

"So - do you think the kingdom of God will protect your children?"

at the same time as i said:

"So - have you got my lipstick then?"

[Camwombat]

when I was at my parents they had a cold caller for a local children's charity (which they donate to anyway), what really got to me about it was that it was torrential rain outside, dark and this lady was dragging her 4 year old around with her who was soaked

I don't have a cold callers sign (yet) but have a sign up asking people not to ring the bell as the baby is asleep. our area has a regular postman abd delivery drivers who all know where to leave a parcel if I don't see them come to door or hear gentle knock. when it's up I have never had anyone ring the bell and cold callers disappear.

I don't answer unknown calls on my mobile, if I know them they will leave a message and I'll call back!

[MsNobodyAgain]

The MSE sign including religious/charities has worked wonders for me. I put it at eye level alongside my doorbell.

I don't answer the door unless I am expecting a delivery or a visitor.