To want to tell all chuggers, cold callers and door to sale people to just fuck off?

[CelticPixie]

I've just had my second visit in as many weeks from a door to door sales person from Safe Style windows trying to sell me double glazing. What's pissed me off more than anything is that I have a sign on my front door saying "No Cold Callers" but each time they have chosen to ignore it. Either that or they can't read. Both times I've just said "no thanks" and slammed the door in their faces, when what I'd really like to say is, "Can't you fucking read or something? Just fuck off and stop harassing people in their homes"

In town earlier on I was stopped by a chugger who wouldn't take no for an answer and nearly tripped me up. You can't walk through the town centre by being humbugged by them now. And then there are the ones who phone you up and try to engage you in a conversation by saying things like "hello, my names , how are you today" which just prompts me to slam down he phone on them without a word.

Why can't I just go about my business without having these fuckwits trying to get me to buy stuff or give to their charities? I WANT TO BE LEFT ALONE!!

The pre recorded phone calls are the worst! You cant even tell them to go away, and you can never call the buggers back. makes me so angry!

Just say "no thanks"

be it at the door , or on the street.

I've never had any problems when I use those words.

You also are under no obligation to open your front door just because somebody knocks on it!

Why not keep a charity box at your front door and if they ask you for money produce the box and say "Actually, I support this charity would you like to donate?"
I do it and it works every time

I never answer the door without looking to see who it is first... if i don't recognise the person then i don't answer.

If it's important they'll leave a note i reckon.
I don't care if they know i'm at home.

Never make eye contact with chuggers etc in the street, or just say ''im late, gotta go'' & walk off quickly.

I had someone from Battersea dog's home call at 8.30pm last night (I was in my PJs).

I was very confused, as we live in Oxfordshire. I didn't realise they were a national charity.

If you have a "No Cold Callers" sign and people are ignoring that, I use a tecnique mentioned by one MNer who said she just stands there silently pointing at the sign and staring at the caller until they get the hint and leave. It works, I think, because you are giving nothing to the caller to engage with, as good sales people can even work with an angry person, as long as that person is interacting with them.

Have used this myself and it really unnerves some people.

No YANBU I would like to say the same thing myself. Particularly to the ones who ring the doorbell and knock at the same time. I don't answer the door now, I don't care if they can see me. It's actually quite satisfying if they can.

The reason I answered the door was because I thought it might be something important. To be honest since we put up the sign most sales people don't knock anymore but you do still get ones who obviously deliberately ignore it.

Sounds like the insurance companies are doing the rounds now. Three calls in two days!

People can no longer read 'no junk mail' signs either now.

I suppose writing 'just feck off and leave me alone' on the front of ones house in pink paint is a bit much..?

I almost lamped one when DS was tiny. This child never slept. Ever. I was marching up the road with him having a rare nap, hoping to get to the shop, grab a pint of milk and home before he woke and started yeowling (always hated supermarkets, I think it was the lighting).

So this arse (RED CROSS - HE WAS FROM THE RED CROSS!) marches up 'Oh madam, can you spare a minute...'
(not stopping) 'no, I'm in a rush'
'Just a minute of your time...' (trotting alongside)
(still not stopping) 'no, I'm really in a rush'
'it wont take long'
'no I am really not able to stop'
'You don't have to LIE!!!'

Cheeky sod! I was going to contact the charity and complain about him but had lost the will be the time I'd run home.

Or the one from a child sponsorship charity who, when I told him that we already sponsor a child through them (which we do) said 'Just one? Why not two? Oh go on...'

I knew more on his subject than the World Vision dude the other day, which startled him. Both DCs were climbing on me, it was nearly teatime, and I'd only answered the door because we had taken in a neighbour's parcel and I thought it was her.

I find "I'm sorry, I work/volunteer for one of your major competitors" has worked well.

The most annoying one I had was the phone call follow up to a text donation I did to Amnesty International. Would not take no for answer, did the matey spiel about all the kids being saved, how grateful they were to amazing people like me, etc. Turns out they were call centre chuggers that would take a hefty portion of any direct debit that I'd have entered into. They got shirty and hung up when I said I'd prefer to go to AI's web site and donate there if I had the spare cash to do so.

YANBU. I'd like to know when was the last time someone bought double glazing from a cold caller??

When I needed windows I researched various options online and then invited companies to quote. I can't imagine impulse purchasing windows at the door!

Buy a No Cold Callers sign.

I bought one the other day after reading a similar thread. I haven't had any callers....so far.

Someone called me this morning and asked me if i had written my will, not what you want to hear on the phone really.

Just to bring a different perspective into the discussion.... I equally dislike cold callers, but I can't help but feel sorry for them. I think it's a really terrible job, having people ignore you, be rude to you or say no to you all day long, out in the rain, in the cold, in the wind.

I know they can be really annoying but I always try my best to smile and be nice to them, because I'd really hate to have to do a job like that.

INeverSaidThat OP says she has a cold callers sign that got ignored.

Even when you donate to them they don't leave you alone. DH gives regularly to the red cross, but they call every few months asking him to increase it. He has now said to the last caller that if they call again, he will cancel the whole thing. Will see if we get a phone call in the next few months....

Tell chuggers that you are under 18 - they are then not allowed to ask for donations. It's even more effective if - like me - you are very obviously not: the look of confusion on a 19 year old chugger's face when a women old enough to be his mum claims to be under 18 is a sight to behold .

Lots of people buy from cold callers. You would be surprised. I dislike it because it is a very high pressure sales tactic that leads people to make suboptimal decisions, and I welcome the moratorium on energy sales cold callers. However there is a simple reason other companies are still doing it - it works, and generates a lot of revenue and profit. Often from vulnerable people who do not have the ability to research their other options or say no, unfortunately.

Well I feel angry at the companies that promote this method rather than the poor sods who do it.

I mean you'd have to be desperate to do door to door so I am never rude. They are doing their job. It must be soul destroying.

It does really annoy me though, but I wouldn't take it out on the person doing it. I am just firm.

Great timing, you will all be please at this news:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-21855594