to have turned this doorstep seller away?

[TartyMcFalalalalalalalalarty]

I just answered the door to a young man who presented an ID card and briefly explained that he was on a prison release programme, trying to stay on the straight and narrow (his words) and could he just have a couple of minutes of my time. I said yes initially, but when he went to show me the contents of his bag I realised it was a doorstep selling situation, and said to be honest I probably wouldn't be interested. He looked really disappointed but thanked me and went on his way.

Now I feel really dreadful. I went back out straight away to see if I could see him, but he's vanished. Ultimately I don't want to be sold stuff on my doorstep, but neither do I want to shut the door on some kid who's trying to sort himself out.

I know I was BU to dismiss him like that. AIBU to think that if it was for real (I didn't look at the ID) this sort of situation is setting young offenders up for failure?

I would always errr on the side of caution and not buy from them. If you want to give to homeless etc give to a registered charity.

Katemiddleton, really, it's not a genuine scheme! Honestly. Community payback (unpaid work) schemes by law cannot be profit making for the offender. In any event, probation and prison service would never risk assess known offenders as suitable to go door to door selling items.

Thats what I thought scary they will potentially be knocking on the doors of some very vulnerable in society, and on their own . Does not ring right tbh. If this did happen and it was a genuine scheme, they would more likely to be accompanied by a probation officer or rehab officer of some sort.

We often get these sellers. They're usually very polite ( with exception to one) who was drunk and got narky when I kindly refused.

I do feel sorry for them but not enough to buy a t towel for £8 !!!

They also come at DS bath / bedtime too :-(

Hmm. I've had chance to have a good Google now, and all I can find is evidence to suggest it's a scam.

If it's not a scam, who on earth thought about letting them go cold calling? What a demoralising job.

its a scam, i remember reading this ages ago

www.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/news/local/8895723.Warning_after_bogus_prisoners_call_at_homes_in_Redditch/

I don't know if it's a scam or not but I turned one of the ex-offender sellers away from my parents house when I genuinely did not have any money with me, my parents were at work, DS was sleeping upstairs and he said he would take a cheque or babysit while I went to the cashpoint. Um...no thanks.

But even without all of that, I would still turn them away. Alcoholic BIL sometimes does unlicensed selling door to door and has twice been arrested for theft from properties he was selling at. The first time he got a prison sentence because he had apparently been intimidating a very elderly and vulnerable man. The second time he got a suspended sentence. Because of him I don't really trust anyone who comes to sell at the door.

I had someone call recently, looked quite scary before he even said who he was. I told him I never buy from people at the doorstep and he turned and gave me a real mouthful. I was quite scared.

not a scam Always! but possibly a only job they can get?, but I imagine it is taken advantage of, because of the types involved?, my cousin started out on this when he came out of his Maj's pleasure, worked his way up and became a supervisor.
it is a road to nowhere, and my cousin the 10 + years he did it, and never secured another job on the back of it, I don't buy from them, my bother however has a ton af shit he doesn't need! but gets the goods and good quality.
PS I don't have much time for this Dc but parents can really screw you up. so I would never see him starve or not have roof, I would feed him, but look for another roof for him ASAP! sounds cruel..but necessary.