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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be annoyed at this lad who came to the door?

38 replies

NigellaTufnel · 19/06/2012 12:13

A small annoyance, but still.

Am rushing around trying to get ready to take DS to the doctor, have been up three times in night, house is a tip, oh, and smell that a nappy need to be changed. Doorbell rings and there is a young man there, door to door selling, with ID card.

I blurt out, 'I'm sorry, I don't buy things at the door, I can't....' trail off ineffectually. (We have one of those snotty stickers by the door saying that I don't buy things at the door.)

He snaps: 'Fine, I don't suppose you believe in second chances', and stomps off. I come out of the door and spout something along the lines of 'Hang on, I've been up all night, I have a sick baby, I don't have time for this.' But he still scowls at me and stomps away.

AIBU to be a bit annoyed at his attitude especially on my doorstep?

OP posts:
Caerlaverock · 19/06/2012 12:15

What a nob, forget it. It is annoying at the best of times

willbeskinny · 19/06/2012 12:15

YANBU. Whilst I appreciate they have a job to do, under the circumstances I prob would've responded the same.

AKMD · 19/06/2012 12:15

YANBU but forget about it. He is obviously destined for greatness Hmm

WorraLiberty · 19/06/2012 12:16

YABU to even think about justifying yourself to the twat.

PoppyWearer · 19/06/2012 12:17

We get them round here too. Am usually in the same state as you! FWIW.

I attribute the snotty response to the fact I'm at the end of the road, so 20 other people before me will have said the same thing.

YANBU.

MsKittyFane · 19/06/2012 12:20

He can P off.

everlong · 19/06/2012 12:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PomBearWithAnOFRS · 19/06/2012 12:25

They are nothing to do with the probation service or whoever it is they say they come from anyway. This has been mentioned here before, and in the papers. It's a scam, all they want is the money, there is no official "rehabilitation of offenders" charity working with the probation services that sends people door to door.

ObiWan · 19/06/2012 12:25

We have had people around saying they were from a youth offending scheme type thing. The first time, I was a bit rubbish and ended up with a bag for holding clothes pegs, and a thermometer of dubious accuracy.

Now when they come back, I tell them I don't keep cash in the house. I am emboldened by the thought of the thoroughly useless peg bag and thermometer.

The ones who call here are very, very polite though, and unusually good looking. Grin

samithesausage · 19/06/2012 12:26

They buy stuff from the pound shop, have a printed out ID card and try to flog you stuff 800% above its value and then give you attitude. You were very polite in the circumstances!

everlong · 19/06/2012 12:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

0TTers · 19/06/2012 12:31

When this happens here, I just make sure the door to the inner hall is open so the feral apple's of my eye can come and see what's going on.

DS1: What's your name?
Why have you got a badge?
Are you a policeman?
What did you do wrong?
Why?

DS2 (rummaging): What's this?
Can I have it?
I haven't got £2, I've got a shiny penny, do you want it?

DS3 (rummaging with no nappy on): Need poo, NOW!

Ex-Offender (running for hills)

Me (Smiling): Byeeeee!

Whoneedssleepanyway · 19/06/2012 12:36

I had this, I had no money he said he would take a cheque, I don't even know where my cheque book is Blush I said sorry and was met with a diatribe of but you are not are you etc etc....I shut the door on him at this point.

ddubsgirl · 19/06/2012 13:01

we get them round here too,i just say thanks but no thanks

lottiegb · 19/06/2012 13:07

They are usually being exploited by heir scamming employers but that's not your fault.

DamselInTornDress · 19/06/2012 13:11

Those lovely "second chance" boys are checking out the neighbourhood while ripping you off with over priced pound shop clothes and dusters.

Our neighbour has been burgled 3 times by the "give us a break" lot that come round here.

Luckily, one of them was scouting my garden out and I caught him and took his number plate details and gave it to the police a week later when they hit my neighbour again. Another neighbour spotted the black Clio but hadn't got the number plate. They have not been round here since.

Original poster
NigellaTufnel · 19/06/2012 13:17

Oh Lord, I hope I'm not going to be burgled now.

I suppose that I was annoyed as well as you can't see our front door from the road and you can really feel very vulnerable. And that someone really just rang my doorbell and was rude to me.

OP posts:
DamselInTornDress · 19/06/2012 13:22

Eeek, I probably shouldn't tell you this then. Our neighbour's house is the one house whose door was not visible from the street! The dividing hedge on my drive obscured his front door. I have since had it cut down to waist height, exposing his door to the street as added security.

He was lucky the second time. They had everything lined up in the hall to take with them when he returned and they barged past him. The third time they must have been disturbed because they got no further than crow-barring his door.

SpottedGurnard · 19/06/2012 13:24

I had a guy over about a month ago. Told me he was an ex offender and showed me a shitty made up ID badge that he was "required to show me by law".

I was just about to launch into a rant about how much of a scam it was and how there's no such offenders rehabilitation program. I felt very vulnerable though and took the easy way out by saying I've just been made resundant. He left quickly with an apology.

everlong · 19/06/2012 13:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DizzyKipper · 19/06/2012 13:31

You didn't need to explain yourself, you had a sticker on the door - he should have paid attention and been courteous by not bothering you in the first place.

DamselInTornDress · 19/06/2012 13:33

I was suspicious of the guy who was prowling around my garden, so I took his number plate down when he left, after he came to my door to sell me his rip off cloths.

I mentioned my suspicions to the police and they thought it suspicious as they are not aware, as pombear mentions, an official "rehabilitation of offenders" charity working with the probation services that sends people door to door.

Whatdoiknowanyway · 19/06/2012 15:35

I had this when I had my first baby. Sleep deprived, 2 weeks old...
He woke me up from a rare nap, I said, sorry, new baby, no money in house, he said 'why don't you just say you don't want to help me you lying bitch'.
That was 20 years ago. Sad to see it hasn't improved. I've never bought or donated at the door since then.

CoffeeDog · 19/06/2012 15:43

Hate hate Hate people comming to the door to sell me stuff..... 50/50 if they are nice or rude. i dont need dusters clothes washing up liquid etc... if i did i would walk the 5 minutes to the shop and buy it much cheaper there.

Some are quite intimidating :(

I did have the Jehova's Witness people come round when DD was covered in chicken pox and i had nasty flu.... they came back 1/2 hour later with calamine loation and flu tablets - left me a copy of the watch tower and told me they hoped we felt better soon ;)

ceeveebee · 19/06/2012 15:48

I had one the other day, i was in the middle of feeding the DTs, i went to the door and said I was a bit busy and he should come back later. He said ' yeah whatever' and stored off, never came back.