door step callers/cold calls, are they illegal? they certainly shoudl be..

[SlartyBartFast]

we used to get them a lot on a previous estate but since we moved to a high street address we don't seem to have any.

until today! aargh, and in my defense i was tired, and not dressed yet he was saying as we had an edf energy meter but did not have electricity from edf, they would not be able to upgrade it, is this cold calling by stealth?
then he starts going on saying i shoudl have economy 7.
Why I demanded, why do you want to know!
i still couldnt understand why he had to disturb me!

so are they illegal?

[lovechoc]

well next time just say no thanks before they start their spiel and just shut the door in their face. it works wonders. honestly.

being abrupt is the only way to stop these people. I got a phone call from a company the other day and I just said 'look, I was asleep you've woken me up, thanks, bye'.

[IUsedToBePeachy]

As a slight detour, the local PCSO's have introduced a cold caller free zone on a local estate, am of the residents there (last ones we had DH took and they were two youngish aldies pretty much trying every flirt trick in the house trying to force their way inn- 'oh can we just have a siiit down, please? we neeeeeed a glass of water- makes you wonder what their next 'pitch' wuld have been- buy or we wills ay you threatened us? refusal to go? who knows)

[DesperateHousewifeToo]

Sounds like it to me. I hate them calling us.

I always tell them that I would never sign up to anything on the doorstep and they should give me some written information for me to think about. They never have any of course

[SlartyBartFast]

of the cold caller free estate. could have done with that when dcs were younger and the dog woudl bark and disturb any naps when people came to door.

[spudmasher]

We had a terrible one today. Selling frozen food- Spencer's I think it was. So skilled in selling. She waliked in and sat down in my hallway to show me her wares!!!!! Hate them!

[SlartyBartFast]

at the brazen walking in!
they wouldnt dare.
though i did have one doing a survey who walked in and said What a mess lot of toys!

[spudmasher]

Slarty, they sent a follow up lady round at 8.50pm to check I still didn't want anything!!!!!!

[SlartyBartFast]

jeez!

[readyfornumber2and3]

to get rid of energy/window sellers at your door do what I do and tell them that you are tenants and your tenancy states you cant change supplier, they have no come back and dont even try and argue lol

[SlartyBartFast]

wow, good idea, readyfornumber..

[sweetnitanitro]

I hate cold callers, we get loads of them round here. It's the one time I'm glad that I only look about 15, then I can very truthfully answer that my parents are not around

I've seen signs up in some areas saying it's a no cold calling zone, does anyone know how those are set up?

[MaureenMLove]

My best one ever was the man trying to sell me a burglar alarm system. Sadly for him, it was Friday, I had already started on the wine and DH has been working for a burglar alarm company for 15 years!!

Twas hilarious! Poor boy clearly had no knowledge of them what-so-ever, apart from what he had revised. I blinded him with science about them (I have picked up a lot over the years!). After about 10 mins banter on the doorstep, he conceded defeat, turned to leave and fell over my wall and landed face down in the flowerbed!

[ravenAK]

I just tell them:

'I never, ever buy anything door to door. I'm not going to buy from you, & your company is now on my blacklist for employing door-to-door tactics. Please leave. Thanks. Or alternatively, you can come in & do the washing up, & I will then listen to your sales pitch before telling you to fuck off'

A Safestyle Windows lad was remarkably persistent the other day.

His grumpy parting shot was 'Well, how else can we let potential customers know about the offers we do?'

Erm...that'd be your nationwide TV advertising campaign, surely?

I did suggest that I'd let him come back & do his spiel if he wore the green highwayman coat like the bloke on the telly.

[Bumpinthenight]

We always use the "the house is rented" line for any electric/gas/windows cold callers.

Another good one is "the company pays the bill".

Jehovah's witnesses on the other hand...

[dutchmanswife]

I've printed off a sign saying 'No Cold Callers' and it manages to keep the majority away. The ones that are brave enough to try just get the door shut in their face.

I think no cold calling zones are set up with help from local trading standards. I'd love to set one up as I think cold calling should be illegal as well.

[DidEinsteinsMum]

Slarty - i would threaten to report them to the energy watch board people (sorry name escapes me) and request their office no and id no off their badge. They dont half scarper fast. But you are within your rights and if they havent got a badge note the name of the org representing and still report them for operating with out id.

I worked a door to door for a grand total of 2 weeks but the office sacked people for not carring ID and getting the office fined. Plus if they are using these tactics the office can have the contract revoked as it is not the actual firm represented that do door to door stuff but an outside firm.
Neat really isnt it.

[spudmasher]

Oh Bump the Jehovah's Witnesses are my favourite's because my husband's aunt Esme is their representative in Barbados. So I grab The WatchTower, point out her address and my relationship to her and ask them to tell me something I don't already know.
That's my claim to fame that is.

[musicposy]

My father has a whole load of stock phrases he uses (though I'm sure they can hear us laughing in the background).

My favourite is "I'm sorry, I'm just the butler and my lady cannot be disturbed at this time of day." (we live in a small terraced house on an estate, so this is rather unbelievable but they usually nod and walk away)

He also says "I'm sorry but this is a commune and the 30 of us need a group meeting to make any decisions on purchasing" (see size of house in previous paragraph),

and "I zorry I not undertand English can ze speak ze (insert any obscure language)"

and "the owner is on her yacht in Marbella at the moment, but she returns next April, you might want to call back then".

BTW, no calling zones are as good as useless. We have one and no one takes a scrap of notice. We tried ringing the police as they put up the notices but they told us there was nothing they could do.

[dutchmanswife]

Foun this link for setting up no cold calling zones.

www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/glos/pdf/Cold%20Calling.pdf

[sweetnitanitro]

Brilliant, cheers for that dutchman'swife.

[Bumpinthenight]

Spud, can i "borrow" Aunt Esme??

[Ninks]

I live near a Kingdom Hall and the Jehovahs are not allowed to knock any more. DD has had several life-saving transfusions and I have made several stern phone calls threatening to visit their homes with DD in tow to rant about my beliefs.

Had a person from the Provident ring the bell last week asking me about savings vouchers.

I asked if she was from the company that did the doorstep loans and she said that yes she was, but I'd have to apply. I ranted away regarding said loans and the criminal (254.5%) interest rate for a bit, but then lost interest because the "rep" clearly didn't understand what I was talking about.

[muggglewump]

I have them all the time, usually wanting to give me a loan, the Provident type.

I had a guy last week asking if I had any gold to sell.

I told him straight, to piss off.

I hate them, and I hate more that they prey on me and my estate because it's mainly low income.

[Ninks]

Quite right, mugglewump. They are parasites

[gingerbunny]

i always find having a give blood sticker on one of the front windows usually keeps Jehovahs away.
as for cold callers i just say i'm moving which seems to work well.