To want to be left alone by chuggers and other cold callers

[Banjogurl]

Hi, I'm expecting my first baby in 4 weeks and recently placed a sign on our front door stating No cold callers or sales. It's a real problem in our area and half the doors on our street have similar signs.

Yesterday (despite the new sign) a chugger knocked on our door and my partner answered. My partner clearly and politely stated he wasn't interested but this guy was really pushy and tried to lay a guilt trip on my DP (Don't you care about people dying of cancer?)

This made me feel pretty angry - though my partner was wonderfully calm and cool about it (damn him!)

Shouldn't chuggers respect the No Cold Callers sign too?

When the baby comes and I'm home alone, sleep deprived and trying to sleep/breastfeed when the next chugger calls I'm not sure I will be able to stay as calm as him!

It's certainly very disrespectful to ignore the polite sign you have on your house. I have one too and it (so far) hasn't been ignored by anyone. If it happens again perhaps you could contact the charity in question and say that this has happened?

YANBU

Have you tried the MSE signs which point out it is a criminal offence to knock if you have the sign up. The suggest just pointing to the sign & closing the door.

I hate them as well, but I can be just as annoying.

I calmly repeat 'did you hear what I said' after I have said I'm not interested, I don't answer any other question, I just keep saying 'did you hear what I said' until they say yes, then I say thank you and shut the door!!

If they stop me in town by standing directly in front of me and blocking my way and say 'can you get out of my personal space' and keep repeating that till they move, then walk away without saying anything else.

When they ring our landline, I say 'just a minute I'll put you through' then disconnect the call!

Oh my, I've just realised, I'm that mad woman you all know

You can bet they come a-knocking as soon as your newborn is asleep as well. Put a ruddy massive sign up.

Completely off topic, but my DH reckons that a 'chug' is another word for a wank - has anyone ever heard this?!

I've never heard it called that ever! We went past a sign recently saying chugs (pups) for sale and he burst out laughing and told me then!

I think as chug dog is a chiwawa crossed with a pug.
As far as the annoying people who knock on your door/get in the way when shopping, they are charity muggers, shortened to chuggers.
Never heard of it being a wank but it does mean you can legitimately call them wankers!!

if the accost me on the street i just tell them i'm unemployed! they're not interested then

I just stare directly at the ones on the street and say 'No, I will not be signing a direct debit with you here in the middle of the road, now or any other time'

I same the same thing when they knock on my door (only once in this house), guy was not happy.

Just be firm, don't be friendly (don't be rude either), don't smile or allow for engagement, just say your piece and be done with it.

Works a treat for me.

OP YANBU

Oh, and the MSE signs are good too.