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

[BonnieBumble]

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?

YANBU. We get these, had no idea it is a scam DH has bought ridiculously overpriced dusters from them before! We also get people wanting to "survey" our loft so they can insulate it for free using a Government grant , people offering to give us a survey of the condition of our walls if we give them our phone number, chuggers to the door up to 10pm at night, and more.

I have noticed my neighbour opens the door when someone knocks, I guess to check if it's a delivery or something. Then if it's one of the above he immediately closes the door again without a word.

At the moment I just say "no thanks I am closing the door now" as soon as anyone starts a sales pitch, then I close the door. Am tempted to try neighbour's approach next time but am naturally a bit too polite.

I definitely don't live in an affluent area or one with a high middle class liberal type population. I did feel like asking why they didn't go and knock on the doors of a nearby village which is very affluent, but i assumed that they chose us because we are quite heavily populated, so it doesnt take long to get round quite a lot of homes. With many of the homes in the affluent village it would take quite a while to walk down their drive to get to the front door!

There is a government scheme for loft insulation but it is only open to over 60s. I'd check which company is running the scheme near you (council should know).

I had one ex-offender trying to sell stuff. He was really nice even when I explained I had no money.

Chuggers are the worst. One came round here pretending he thought I was the daughter of the house (asked if he could speak to my parents or some such crap) - I am 42 ffs and look at least over 35 (on a good day).

I don't think the loft insulation people are genuine as when my DH once asked them for ID and the name of their company (he is much more polite than me), they told him they didn't have any ID and made all sorts of excuses to not give him a company name.

Probably a scam in that case then but there is a government backed scheme going on. Best to check though.

We also get people wanting to "survey" our loft so they can insulate it for free using a Government grant I had a phone call about such a scheme and she wanted to send someone round to check my loft. anyone else had a call? I was a bit short with her.

www.insulationgrants.info/?gclid=CLzAxfqBhbACFUxlfAodQnx_nw

oops, may have been genuine, but then why did she not say check / apply online.

I just find it awkward.

Who's going to buy cleaning stuff from a bloke on the door when you can get it all for a 3rd of the price while doing your weekly shop?

I couldn't afford £6 for a duster either.

We had one of these characters call and I pointed out that he should not have done so as there was a sticker on the side of our door saying that this is a 'No Cold Callers' street. (fantastic, police endorsed scheme.) It was a great sticker - all I ever had to do for months was point it out and callers would go.(Even N-Power salesmen!) Next morning I noticed someone had torn it off the wall - aibu to assume it was the duster salesman?

lady - in what way is it a scam? we get them knocking regularly at our house too. i would initially often buy stuff off them although tbh it is both expensive and crap. now i tend not to open the door when it rings unless i am expecting someone, they usually come late afternoon or the evening, we get alot of cold callers at that time and it REALLY fucks me off

we have a sign on our door. Most people read it and leave. The few that don't, I open the door, glare at them and point to it and shut it again.