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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not expect to be intimidated by a door-to-door salesman.

36 replies

BonnieBumble · 16/05/2012 12:38

We often receive calls from ex-offenders selling expensive homewares. The first time I received a call I felt sorry for the guy and ended up paying £6 for a duster.

I can't actually afford any of their items so I normally say "sorry but no thanks" when I answer the door to them.

Yesterday I answered the door and I was quite stressed as whilst I was cooking in the kitchen the children had put loads of toys in front of the door so I had to clear a pathway before I could even get to the door! Then ds2 tries to make a quick escape and is dashing out the door (no front garden) in his nappy. I quickly realise who he is and say "sorry I'm not interested in buying anything" and turn my attentions to ds2 who is making his way down the road. The salesman completely ignores me and continues to reel off his sales pitch, I repeat that I am not interested and do not have any money and he takes a step closer to me and continues to tell me about his products, he is now just inches away from my face. I then shut the door in his face, partly because he is intimidating me and partly because ds is trying to get out again.

This really isn't on is it?

OP posts:
ItsAPublicForumWhine · 16/05/2012 12:40

YANBU.

cuteboots · 16/05/2012 12:42

YADNBU! Very intimidating and pushy

TroublesomeEx · 16/05/2012 12:44

Don't open the door next time.

mum23girlys · 16/05/2012 12:44

Hate this too. I had one recently and he was wanting me to give him my bank details to sign up a regular donation to Tommy's baby charity. When I said no his pal appeared from round the side of the house. I wouldn't have trusted these guys with a £5 note never mind my bank details. He kept hitting me with the patter about how would I feel if I had lost a baby or had a baby in neonatal. Was near to tears as I've had both happen to me and he was really not a very nice man. Thankfully my dad (a retired police inspector btw) had been visiting and came to the door. They soon fled. Makes me wonder if they were even from Tommy's as my dad just oozes retired cop Grin

TroublesomeEx · 16/05/2012 12:44

YANBU btw, but don't open the door.

Ithinkitsjustme · 16/05/2012 12:44

YANBU, it might sound extreme but I would report him because if he does this to you who knows how he would be to an elderly person

Original poster
BonnieBumble · 16/05/2012 12:46

I don't always open the door. Because of the way that our house is situated you can't look out a window to see who the caller is. I'm not quite sure what prompted me to open the door yesterday.

OP posts:
LadySybilDeChocolate · 16/05/2012 12:48

There was a thread on here a couple of months ago about the ex offenders selling things at your door, apparently it's a scam. Sad

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 16/05/2012 12:49

can you get a chain or something?

Original poster
BonnieBumble · 16/05/2012 12:50

I did think about reporting it. Most elderly people in our area have notices on their door stating that they don't accept cold callers. I feel slightly nervous about reporting him as he looked very intimidating and I wouldn't want to piss him off any further.

OP posts:
Ithinkitsjustme · 16/05/2012 12:50

I'm quite lucky in that our front door is at a 90 degree angle to the living room window so I can see who is knocking and because there is always a clothes airer/ pushchair/ other crap in the way I just open the window to accept parcels etc.

CallMeAl · 16/05/2012 12:50

Just say no, and close the door. No need to make such a big deal about it.

BTW, its not just ex-offenders on these programmes, often its sn adults, so its entirely possible he didn't have the social skills necessary to negotiate the situation appropriately.

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 16/05/2012 12:51

It doesnt matter who they are, offenders or sn adults or whatever...no one has the right to imtimidate someone on their own property!

Original poster
BonnieBumble · 16/05/2012 12:52

I suppose I could get a chain it would probably be easier to just not answer the door. It's never anybody interesting anyway!

OP posts:
GrahamTribe · 16/05/2012 12:53

This trick is generally accompanied by the brandishing of an official-looking "ID card" from the Youth Offenders or Probation Services or similar. In these cases you're are likely to be told that they have the backing of the government organisation concerned.

It's a scam.

The Probation etc services have no such scheme. They do not issue these "ID cards" and they do not support what these guys are doing. If you get one of these guys on your doorstep, call the police immediately - and tell them you're going to do it.

The last one who came to my door got told that it was a scam and I was calling the police (late DH was a bobby Wink ) - I was furious as I have elderly, vulnerable neighbours to one side of my house. He hotly denied it was a scam but as I watched him leave (while on the phone to the police), I noticed that instead of going to the next house and try it on my elderly neighbours he hot-footed it back up the road in the direction he'd come from and straight into a waiting car, which sped off sharpish.

CrumpettyTree · 16/05/2012 12:53

What sort of scam is it LadySybilDeChocolate? I had someone selling household stuff and I bought some pegs I didn't need, thinking it would get him off my back, but then he started going on about how I hadn't spent much and trying to get me to buy more. (I didn't.)

GrahamTribe · 16/05/2012 12:56

www.ynyprobation.co.uk/news-events/news.php?c=2 picking one of these at random from a Google search, you'll see 3/4 of the way down a warning from the Probation Trust about these guys.

CrumpettyTree · 16/05/2012 12:57

Oh I see, a scam as in pretending it is an official scheme when it isn't. I thought a scam involving tricking money out of people or something.

Original poster
BonnieBumble · 16/05/2012 12:58

Yes, I had read on here that it was a scam. I have to admit that I was taken in. The time that I did actually buy something I felt sorry for the guy because all his stuff was so rubbish and overpriced.

I'm not surprised that I was duped, after all it's not that difficult for an ex offender to play the part of an ex offender!

OP posts:
GrahamTribe · 16/05/2012 13:10

Ah yes, but is the guy an ex-offender or is he just telling you that to elicit sympathy? These guys are very clever about where they target ime. They tend to go for the very affluent areas or those with a high middle class liberal type population.

Ithinkitsjustme · 16/05/2012 13:13

If he is that intimidating to everyone he won't know who reported him anyway!

Ambi · 16/05/2012 13:18

We don't have much of a problem with sales people but JW. I've put up a sign on my door advising that "We are not interested in hearing other peoples political or religious beliefs nor do we buy at the door." Not had one pesty knock since.

Original poster
BonnieBumble · 16/05/2012 13:19

Aha I think they may have googling our demographic stats on Upmystreet.com.

OP posts:
gabsid · 16/05/2012 13:21

If a no, thank you doesn't work I tend to repeat what I said a bit sharper then they usually go, if not I just close the door.

thebody · 16/05/2012 14:09

We get these do called offenders all the time. I don't answer the door now as don'tike to say no as felt sorry for them.

It's a bloody scam, really??? Ffs I have been taken in proper.

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