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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Another cold call one

26 replies

RuleBritannia · 02/05/2012 14:01

I have just this minute closed the door on a youing man.

His first words when I opened it (with the chain on ) were, "Hello, Madam, are you the owner of this building?" I told him it was nothing to do with him whether I owned or rented.

He asked me if I'd got out of bed on the wrong side and walked off assuming that I was a Council tenant.

Yes, I know they are doing a job but why cold call? When they have their training, are they warned that there will be people like me? What have my personal circumstances got to do with them, anyway? < walks away grumbling to have a .......>

OP posts:
Original poster
RuleBritannia · 02/05/2012 14:01

*young

OP posts:
tantrumsandballoons · 02/05/2012 14:03

because if you rent, you cant buy windows/loft conversions/whatever he was selling.
he wasn't asking to be nosey. it was to save him wasting time going through a whole sales pitch if it want relevant.

squeakytoy · 02/05/2012 14:04

yabu and were rude..

PurplePidjin · 02/05/2012 14:05

My favourite is informing phone callers that no one in the house is married - I'm regularly asked for Mrs Pidjin Angry

jammic · 02/05/2012 14:07

I always just lie and tell them I'm just house sitting and the owners won't be back for weeks. That normally gets shot of them pain free. If they're calling for a charity, agree with them that it's a fab cause and that you already donate money.

jammic · 02/05/2012 14:08

Works a treat ; )

Original poster
RuleBritannia · 02/05/2012 14:13

Yes, I suppose I was a bit short with him but it was a surprise to find a cold caller there. I knew it would be about double glazing or new front door (I have a beautiful solid mahogany door) so I was cross almost before he opened his mouth. If I had left the door closed and let him see me through the window, that would have been rude.

I have aluminium double glazing and like its appearance. These days, they try to get you to change to UPVC (plastic, in my eyes). If I criticise plastic window frames, I suppose I'll have people on my back about that.

OP posts:
Sallyingforth · 02/05/2012 15:47

yabu and were rude.

No! They trade on you not wanting to be rude. It saves his time and yours if you just shut the door.

tantrumsandballoons · 02/05/2012 16:29

Bear in my mind it is his job, he probably works for a tiny wage and commission and he just asked if you were the owner you were rude
All you have to say is, no I don't buy from cold callers, thank you and smile, you didn't have to get into a big debate about how dare he ask about your personal circumstances.

As for thinking youre a "council tenant"
What's that supposed to mean, all council tenants are rude?

Krumbum · 02/05/2012 16:36

I used to cold call on the phone though. Which is bit better cos ppl can get tps if they don't want calls. I worked for Anglian (hideous company) and we would ask if someone is the home owner because we can't sell to them if they rent and because to arrange a quote you need the actual home owner there. We knew to expect that most ppl don't love being called so never took it personally. Maybe this person was new and not used to it. He should not have been rude to you like that though. The door to door canvassing always seemed horrible, I always preferred the idea of the phone!

Kayano · 02/05/2012 16:38

Very rude

Nice boast about your doors Hmm totally relevant

Kayano · 02/05/2012 16:39

He probably didn't think you were a council tenant btw Hmm

He probably thought you were something actually unpleasant

Goolash · 02/05/2012 16:43

I don't think you were rude, a bit short with him but he must be used to that! If not he soon will be ;) After all he is knocking on a door, making the person stop what they're doing, thrusting an ID at them and asking about about their house ownership.

lisaro · 02/05/2012 17:00

Actually I've had that a couple of times and while I realise why they're asking it's still not their business. The same with power company cold callers who ask which one you're with. If I wanted to buy/change I would.

tantrumsandballoons · 02/05/2012 17:04

No one actually likes cold callers but there is no need to be rude is there?
Otherwise we might all think it's on to be rude about the ops stealth boast about her doors and windows and her obvious distaste of council tenants.........

Sookeh · 02/05/2012 17:05

Manners cost nothing, just tell him no thank you or that you're housesitting and close the door. I'm mentally unwell and really struggle with strangers knocking on my door but even I'm polite.

thebody · 02/05/2012 17:08

I never answer the door if I am alone unless visitor expected.

RevoltingPeasant · 02/05/2012 17:10

I think you were both rude.

Him asking if you had gotten out of the wrong side of the bed and for you being pretty deliberately obstructive.

Look, no one likes cold callers, all you have to do is say, 'Thank you, but I don't do business at the door' and smile regretfully as you shut it.

Equally, he should've said, 'Because if you are the home owner, I can offer you a fantastic deal on whatever crap I'm selling today' rather than grumbling at a simple question.

NarkedPuffin · 02/05/2012 17:16

Cold calling is rude.

Disturbing people's peace to try to sell them something is rude.

NarkedPuffin · 02/05/2012 17:17

And one of the reason's they continue with it is because they exploit the vunerable in our society - the elderly, the isolated etc.

GoEasyPudding · 02/05/2012 17:30

I think you met him head on in the rudeness competition.

The cold caller was using a very poor technique as it's a very rude opening line!

I have in the past replied "May I ask who's asking?" and that seems to set them all off too! You can't win with some of them. They see the sale has gone and they turn on you.

I have actually had a couple of aggressive cold callers in the past, so bad and so scary I had to call the police. I don't answer the door now if I am alone.

As sales people they are not at the top of their game and that's why they are walking the streets taking advantage of vunerable people. If they were good at sales they would be in a nice showroom selling something people needed or wanted.

ineedabodytransplant · 02/05/2012 23:06

OP, I don't think you were rude/unreasonable at all.

I get totally f**d off that someone knocks on the door totally uninvited and expects answers! I find that not answering the door, but making sure they know I am in and aware they are there very satisfying.

I don't care if they are on minimum wage/commission. Not my problem.

If I want double glazing/insulation/religion etc...I know how to find it.

I do NOT need some fool who probably knows less than I do trying to con me into wasting my time and money.

Rant over...(for now)

MotherAbigail · 02/05/2012 23:15

agree with ineedabodytransplant

These people barge into your life uninvited and you are expected to be polite?

If a mum in the school playground asked about your home ownership status, she would be howled down with cries of 'did you mean to be so rude/nosy?'

squeakytoy · 02/05/2012 23:16

Cold calling is rude

And it is a shit job to do... but these people are still human beings trying to make a living.

I dont want anything that is offered on my doorstep, but I am always polite to the people who knock.

maddening · 03/05/2012 01:04

you mean you don't want to save money madam - just a couple of minutes of your time blah blah

I think cold calling should be banned - then no one will have to do that job

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