Would you support a ban on cold calling at the door?

[AntiqueVases]

Hello

Inspired by a panicked post on my local fb page tonight asking if the Guides actually are charity collecting round doors tonight or it's a scam.

Personally I definitely think it should be illegal to ring someone's doorbell to ask them for money. Too much scope for elderly/vulnerable to feel pressured or fall for a scam.

It's bad enough being harassed in supermarkets etc but people should be safe in their own homes.

Setting up a No Cold Calling Zone appears to be a right faff. And surely people who don't live in one of these Zones are equally deserving of being unmolested in their own homes?

Would you support a nationwide ban on any or all of the following cold-calling at the door? (I'm talking about ringing the doorbell as opposed to leafleting, the latter of which is still irritating but not quite so intrusive or pressurising)

Politicians
Charity
Religion
Sales - eg Hello Fresh and folk offering to clean gutters/wash driveways

I'd personally include "TV licence inspectors" as salespeople and ban them to fuck from ringing people's doorbells but don't want to derail my own thread right at the start!

Thanks!

I also think it's dangerous in the other direction - lone workers are in more danger, particularly out in public.

Someone in a minute will come along and moan that you want to ban Halloween (!) but I agree with you. People's homes are supposed to be their sanctuaries.

Hmm. Never thought of Halloween. Maybe we need to LEGISLATE that it's only houses with pumpkins in the window who can be approached!

💯 though I’d have a clause to allow trick or treat and carol singers!

I think that's part of the issue though - it's like signs that say 'No Cold Callers' - not everyone adheres to the convention.

Absofuckinglutely.

The whole lot.

Possibly with an exception for politicians during an election, but definitely anyone trying to get money, whether that's for charity or goods and services.

Anyone vulnerable would then know that anyone asking for money at the door is a wrong'un.

And how would you enforce such a ban exactly? Let’s say it was made illegal but someone still calls round. You think the police are going to be interested? You don’t think they have better things to do?

@Notmyreality @GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut explains it well: Anyone vulnerable would then know that anyone asking for money at the door is a wrong'un.

I DO ban cold-calling at my door. If they're not there because they know me or have something to say of importance as a neighbour, I just don't engage. I say "sorry" and shut the door on them. I would have been aghast at that attitude 20 years ago, but I seem to have hit that age where I give no fucks for how I behave on my own doorstep to uninvited knocks on the door.

Where I live it's illegal for salespeople to knock on a door where the household has a 'do not knock' sticker. Charities and religious groups are technically legally allowed to knock still but generally won't so the stickers tend to work really well to stop all unwanted knockers.

Yes, I’d support a ban, given that fraud and scammers are now rife in this country, as well as the annoyance factor.

I have a ‘no cold callers’ sign on my front door and they still knock. It wouldn’t be possible to enforce a ban.

Presumably large organisations like political parties, religion and charities would abide by the ban? That would cut down on a lot of unwanted visitors.

Yes I would support this.

Since I moved to my current address five years ago I've had so many cold callers trying to sell me something - broadband, have the rough casting done, my paths replaced, have milk delivered etc etc. It's been unbelievable.

I really resent the fact that some of these callers definitely see me as fair game - older woman living alone - and some of them have applied pressure. I was naive when I first moved here and answered the door but I try not to now. But because i'm often working in the garden I get caught anyway.

I'm not as gullible as they take me for and don't fall for speil, but I can really see how so many vulnerable people fall for the doorstep callers.

It's a mixed bag round here, we get a lot of double glazing/charity hawkers considering we're rural but we did have a local dairy a few weeks back selling a new delivery service and I did sign up for that - we'd been looking for one for months. I usually check the cameras first though.

Yes, I absolutely loathe them, whether salespeople or charity collectors. I just say (through the door) “Sorry, I don’t open the door to uninvited visitors”.

Absolutely
I HATE being disturbed in the sanctuary of MY OWN home. It's violating

@GinaandGin I agree with you. I'm a massive introvert and have some autistic tendencies. I find it hard to explain how jarring I find it to be wrenched out of my own world (I WFH and have to be "in the zone"). It honestly takes me 30 mins to get back into a quiet headspace after an unwanted intrusion on my own doorstep. It DOES feel like a violation of sorts.

Well, if you said no charities that would get rid of the chuggers. But it would also get rid of things like the Santa doing the rounds on his sleigh with the elves knocking on doors to bring people out. I'm one of his elves and it brings so much joy to so many people as well as raising significant sums for local good causes.

Politicians - they never seem to bother here. But I'd like the chance to talk to them, you don't often get the opportunity.

Religion - we only get Jehovah's Witnesses and they are the last bothersome callers we ever get.

So that leaves salespeople. Utilities, double glazing, no I don't want them but they are always polite. But what about youngsters hoping to wash cars or do a bit of gardening.

On balance the only ones I really don't like are the Nottingham Knockers.

While I sympathise with introverts, we don't all feel that way. So long as they are polite I have no issue with people coming to my door and would find it sad to be shut in at home all the time with never a knock. It's lovely when friends and neighbours appear at the door.

I don't mind someone coming asking to clean by gutters or wash my Wheely bin. Often these are just people trying to make money and I have no problem with that. I do mind people trying to sell me windows or asking me to give to charity or buy their cleaning supplies. Just no.
I hate getting leaflets through the door. They all go straight in the bin. For a while I tried filling the clothes bags but no fucker came to collect them and the bag was ripped open by something/one and the stuff inside ruined. No number of "no flyering" signs will stop them either. It's such a waste!

Yep - all of them!

Yes I'd like it banned. Why should we be pressured and guilt tripped on our own doorstep.

Town Centre clipboard harassment should also be stopped. I don't mind if they just stand there but they should not be allowed to approach people and block their way. It's rude.

Yes- they always come to my front door too which we never use & is a bit ropey to open/close so I find it especially irritating if I have to do this & it’s an unsolicited caller.

I have a sticker on the door from the council telling them not to knock. It doesn't work. However if it's a nice day I will give people who do know lots of grief. I have told some to go away in no uncertain terms.
The chuggers get asked if they know how much their CEO earns. I tell them to get a better job.
If it's cold I am ruder.

The MP has never knocked on my door but I am known to all the councillors and will give them hard questions if they knock.

During COVID - right at the beginning, the council were going door to door to check everyone was OK. I pointed out that by going door to door they were potentially put people at more risk of being exposed. They were giving out numbers for people to ring if they needed a loaf fetching.. It was a nonsense really. There were about 6 of them who kept meeting up in the middle of the road (I can see a vast amount of my street and I'm nosey) after every awkward confrontation.

The Jehovah Witness lot have a list so you can ask to be put on that and they stop calling.

So, we have a cold calling ban in Australia. If you have a notice on your door, commercial companies cannot knock. It has improved things, but not perfectly. Charities & religions kicked up a huge fuss and became exempt, unfortunately.

I haven't seen door knockers for years, though. It seems to be a thing of the past. We have chuggers in shopping centres trying to get you to set up a regular direct debit, or are asked at the Supermarket checkout to 'round up' your bill for charity. Lots of large prize raffles, too. As long as they're not knocking on my door, I'm happy!!

People coming to your door to clean gutters or do other maintenance are mostly scammers here, so if they knock, you know they're not legitimate.

@MermaidMummy06 thanks, that's interesting. So you need a separate sign to specifically forbid charities and religions? Would they obey that?