For being terrified after visit from Nottingham Knockers?

Are you suggesting Our Dear Robin Hood is out and about selling J cloths? 🤔

Probably about a decade ago or even longer we had a young man show up at the door with a bag, said he was an ex-prisoner trying to get back on his feet and would we be interested in buying a few things. We didn't really need anything but we bought about £20 worth probably because we felt sorry for him. He was perfectly pleasant and went on his way. Heard no more about it, certainly weren't broken into at any point later on.

A couple of years later had another similar one but said no thanks to him. He had a bit of an unpleasant attitude and stalked off grumbling. It was only much later I heard about this type of scam.

Edit: I don't think there's any reason to be 'terrified', honestly.

People target elderly people maybe not someone who is 77 but yes it is a thing and no not ageist.

urso because a person is 77 they have no judgement and will always believe any scammer.So patronising and why the hell do people say 'oh bless' when they are talking about an older person.How patronising and ageist.And as for being terrifed by a nottingham knocker I am sorry but you have a low bar for terror.

I had one knock the door, the day after I’d seen it on tv!. I just politely said no thank you. I was living on my own at the time with my baby so I was a bit nervous but nothing happened thankfully.

You have to get a balance, between being wary and not overthinking it. Not always easy.!

Many mumsnetters are. Never open your door, do not engage with any member of the public because they are all out to rape/kill/rob you.

Have never heard the term "Nottingham Knocker" but we have had these people round the door in the past too. We never ever buy anything door to door, so just say no thanks, close the door, job done. Nothing to be terrified about.

we get them dropped off in a van to the rural villages where I live.i shouted to the last one who was trying to persuade an elderly woman to buy bits from him.She was grateful as he was quite aggressive-he went straight on his phone to get picked up by his boss-I shouted at him and said I knew what he was up to and I’d call the police if he didn’t get lost.was terrified afterwards 😂 and husband wasn’t thrilled when I told him but I was so angry at the time i didn’t think.Odd thing is they all have Liverpudlian accents and we are in Devon.

Yes I had a guy come round who said he was deaf and dumb he was selling 'hand-drawn' pictures. I was taken in for a minute he was very convincing. I didn't buy anything and then thought it didn't add up when he left. I wondered if an elderly person had answered the door how they may find it unsettling and under pressure to buy something so I called the police. I had three follow up calls from them and they sent out cars to patrol so they are concerned about the issue.

I've had them at the door occasionally. Once bought a special tub of upvc cleaner from them. It was quite good.

I thought the scam was they're not all fresh out of prison and the goods they sell are overpriced.

I don't think there's any harm in phoning 101. They may be able to tell you if there's been any problems in the area with either burglaries or aggressive door selling (not sure if he was aggressive?!)

The chances are it will be nothing and nothing will happen. Have you got someone who can turn lights on and off in your house etc fit the few days you're away to make it look like someone is there and give you some reassurance. A Ring doorbell may be useful but I think it's important to maintain some perspective so as not to drive yourself mad.

I’ve had the same in both Yorkshire and London. Going back many years. Never been burgled. Rest easy by I completely understand why this has shaken you. I still hate people coming to the door unexpectedly.

Get a ring doorbell, or a security gate. I've got a security gate, it gives me a lot of peace of mind. I don't generally open the door though if I'm not expecting someone, it's always chuggers or Jehovahs witnesses.

I've had the Nottingham knockers a few times. The last time, he gave me the comforting words 'Don't worry, I'm not going to stab you' as I opened the door. I don't think they are very linked with burglaries though.

Had them twice this year. Weird that they didn't try the neighbours with ring cameras either time.

the link is useful, I’d not realised or thought of that, that’s really dark and whilst @thesecondmrsdewinter20 has no reason to be terrified as you didn’t buy and don’t appear vulnerable or have loads of cash around it’s right to report to 101. We have them around every so often, and often wondered what the point of it was for them. My dippy DP spent £25 on some j cloths etc as he felt sorry for a lad ages ago and we’ve not had any follow up. Last time I was WFH and just opened window and told him no thanks.

Get the ring doorbell set up to put your mind at rest - they are very useful and I no longer worry when we are away.
Timer switches on lamps are good too so your house won’t be in darkness in the evening - some can be controlled by an app do you can operate remotely to mix up the times the lights go on.

They're round a few times here. Generally from Teesside. I always buy some over priced tea towels. Last time it was freezing and damp so I filled his coffee flask and gave him an old scarf. Might be an over priced rip off but I'm a sucker for a sob story.

Does anyone have any advice / reassurance? We are young, in our 30s,

You're really not that young if you're in your thirties. You're grown adults who should know how to secure a house if you're away, get some cheap timers for side lamps to make it look like the house is occupied and not be terrified every time someone you're not expecting knocks on your door.

We used to get these lads all the time years ago. I never bought anything and was never burgled.

How?
Don't be terrified. We've had them a few times, they have given up now. No-one has been broken into.

Urgh, I’ll never forget our version where I live. I was coming in from the car and when I said I wasn’t interested thanks, he blocked the way so I couldn’t get to the house. It felt like forever, but was probably only a few minutes, before he finally left after telling me I should do a good deed and to help him out and me kept saying ‘please leave.’

We logged it with 101, and ordered some no cold caller stickers for next to the door. We still get the odd cold caller now, but never these guys. It’s usually Jehovahs witnesses who say ‘that obviously doesn’t include us’ to which I of course say ‘you’re top of the list.’ And shut the door.

Did you use a door chain to open the door?

In these increasingly cashless days, I'm surprised the condition of a note could be taken as a guide to the pickings in a house. From many people, you'd probably be getting an 'emergency tenner' that was stashed somewhere.

To go against the grain a bit, I answered the door to one and he was acting strange, looking over and past me, like there was someone behind me. There was only me in the house. I declined and he left. Two or three days later we were burgled. Coincidence? Maybe. But I'm absolutely convinced that they were checking out house.

How does it help the OP to tell her she seems “a bit hysterical”?

I think it’s unkind and unnecessary.

The link which has now been posted three times is not from the police and appears to be absolute nonsense:

> When the note is handed over, the lad examines the condition and how long it took the person to get it. If it is crumpled, they accept it and move on. If it is crisp flat and new – they are much more interested and may engage the person in more conversation, to obtain details about them. As they leave they will smell the note. If it is slightly musty – this is an indication that there is more in the property.

The scam is that they sell you something overpriced. That's the whole scam. They literally got your money, why would they combine this with burglary? If they were going to burgle you, there are much better ways of checking your home out without arousing suspicion. They're not smelling ten pound notes to divine if you have a whole stack under your mattress.

I once bought a set of tea towels from an ex con on the doorstep.
They have lasted years and been brilliant!
That’s the only time we’ve ever had them round though.

Now, the french onion man I really DO miss. They stopped coming during covid and didn’t restart, which is a massive shame as the onions were superb and lasted all winter.