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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask how I can stop those door to door charity people from ringing my door bell?

68 replies

Ginshizz · 27/08/2012 18:02

You know those people who come round and try to get you to sign up for a monthly direct debit? They are seriously pissing me off. Now don't get me wrong, I give to charity, I donate clothes etc, I have three direct debits set up to charities (managed to set these up all by myself) and before I had DD, I volunteered too.

But I am sick of how many charity door to door people have been harassing me! For example, over the past week alone, I have had three of the buggers on my doorstep:

One was collecting for the dogs trust but asked if I could put my very quiet, gentle Labrador on a lead while he tried to convince me to sign up as he was scared of dogs. Seriously.

One refused to go when I said I was in the middle of feeding my baby so could he go away. He even offered to take over feeding her while I read his marketing material. This creeeeeeeeped me out hugely.

One (today) rang the bell three times and knocked twice, waking my baby up after it had taken me ages to get her to go to sleep. I opened the door, told her what she'd done and asked her to leave. She responded by saying "before I do, could I talk to you about ..."

I have a piece of paper by my door bell saying I do not sign up to door to door charity marketing so could they please not call. They take no notice.

The reason I answered my door to these fuckers people when they do call is that the keeeeeeeep ringing driving me, my DD and my dog mad. I tried disconnecting the bell, they just knock and knock and knock.

What do I need to do to get them to stop?

At what point will actual physical violence get them to take my address off the register?

Is there a trade body I can report them to? But more importantly, can I actually set a bear trap on the way to my door? Or throw kitchen knives at them from the top floor?

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Ranting over. Time for gin ...

OP posts:
scentednappyhag · 27/08/2012 18:03

Electric shock doorbell? Grin

DozyDuck · 27/08/2012 18:03

They aren't from the actual charity 90% of the time they are from a company that the charity pays a certain amount for every one they sign up.
Tell them it is an offence to ignore the sign and close the door

DozyDuck · 27/08/2012 18:04

Or you could do what I read on another thread and open the door slowly and say

'whats the password?'

Original poster
Ginshizz · 27/08/2012 18:05

Grin @ scented

I might forget to disconnect the electricity when the in laws come round ...

duck noooooooooooo! Really???? Makes me feel even more annoyed

OP posts:
scarletforya · 27/08/2012 18:06

Disconnect the doorbell. Seriously, they are pointless. I only answer the door to people I know or expect. You don't need to answer it to anyone else. If it's an important or genuine caller they'll ring you.

IawnCont · 27/08/2012 18:09

"Do you seriously think I'm going to give you any money, seeing as you've not only ignored the sign but also knocked on my door persistently?"
Or take their name and report them to the charities they are collecting for.

scarletforya · 27/08/2012 18:10

Oops just seen that you have tried disconnecting the doorbell.... could you disable the knocker?

Original poster
Ginshizz · 27/08/2012 18:11

scarlet I have tried disconnecting the bell ... The fuckers just keep knocking!

Iawn good point - I just assumed they'd give me a false name though as that's what I'd do but maybe they aren't sharp enough to think of that ...

OP posts:
Original poster
Ginshizz · 27/08/2012 18:12

scarlet they also use the letter box!!! Might try putting chilli juice on the knocker ...

OP posts:
DozyDuck · 27/08/2012 18:13

Yup really. DSs dad worked for them for 1 day when we were young and pregnant. We really needed the money but he just couldn't do this job at all! He said it was completely immoral as they target the poor and vulnerable and pretend to work for the charities. I agreed with him and he ended up finding another minimum wage job. We'd rather stay poor than con people

Original poster
Ginshizz · 27/08/2012 18:15

That explains the dog hater asking for money for the dogs trust!

OP posts:
DozyDuck · 27/08/2012 18:16

It does Sad

ilovemydogandMrObama · 27/08/2012 18:17

Am going to try and get my area as a 'No Cold Callers' zone after a children's charity banged on the door at 1 minute to 9pm, woke up all the kids, including DD2 (then 6 months and who had just gotten to sleep after a high temp).

what was surprising was their attitude, and one of them shouted at me Hmm saying they were entitled by license to knock on anyone's door. Shock

dinkystinky · 27/08/2012 18:17

Put up a sign saying beware of the nudist?

Original poster
Ginshizz · 27/08/2012 18:18

Dozy thinking about it, that also answers a latent question I had about them targeting our area... Most of the housing round here is council housing and there are a lot of people who are really struggling so I couldn't work out why they come round so much. That's horrible! One of my neighbours is a lovely lady but she isnt quite all there (dementia) and I feel terrible that they are always hovering around her house too.

OP posts:
Original poster
Ginshizz · 27/08/2012 18:19

dinky that is inspired! I will also suggest DH answers the door in the nude next time. That should put them off! Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
Ginshizz · 27/08/2012 18:20

lovemydog that's terrible. What bastards. I will look into whether I can do anything similar ... Do I need to get in touch with the council?

OP posts:
neverquitesure · 27/08/2012 18:22

I used to live in an area frequented by charity sales people and it drove me mad. I never did find a way to stop them knocking/ringing/trampling over the front lawn to knock on the study window whilst I was working, but I used to make an email complaint to the company in question each time. It gives the charities (who are often unaware of how unprofessional the companies acting in their name are) the opportunity to review their marketing practices and made me feel a bit better too.

neverquitesure · 27/08/2012 18:23

*to the charity in question, not company

The collections company themselves could not give a rat's arse.

DameEnidSpink · 27/08/2012 18:23

Easier for us as we don't have a baby to risk waking, but we just completely ignore them.

If we are in the living room, then they can see us when they walk up the drive, so know we are in, but we just ignore the door. Some are cheeky enough to peer through or knock on the window - we mouth "fuck off" to them.

What often happens with these people is that they are given commission by the charity based on sign ups, but as those who sign up often only do so to get rid of them and frequently then cancel, it actually costs the charity more than they gain.

WildWorld2004 · 27/08/2012 18:26

I have a sign & it seems to work. A couple of guys were kicking about yesterday on my street but my door remained unknocked.Grin Before i would open the door tell them im not interested & shut the door before they even opened their mouths.

I saw the password thing on the other thread & thought it was genius.

WildWorld2004 · 27/08/2012 18:29

What i find funny is when they would say all your neighbours are signed up. I just used to laugh as my neighbours are always at work or out when they knock. (you can tell by the lack of cars in the street)

Original poster
Ginshizz · 27/08/2012 18:35

wild yep they tried the neighbours thing on me too! My neighbours either all work or don't have the money to sign up!

Dame that makes me sad that the charities dont even make much money from all that hassle...

Never I think I might start doing that. Possibly with a mug shot of the caller too!

OP posts:
roundtoit · 27/08/2012 18:35

open the door point to the sign that you have that says no callers and shut the door. Just like supernanny when she puts kids back on the naughty step , do not talk to them as this will only encourage them to talk back.

toboldlygo · 27/08/2012 18:37

I noticed a significant drop in numbers after putting a 'beware of the dog - please close the gate' sign on the front gate. Seems to have worked for salespeople as well as chuggers.

For the few that knock I answer the door with a grinning Siberian husky held back by the collar, they are not to know that they wouldn't harm a fly. :)