not to want strangers knocking on my door?

[mrsjskelton]

Okay - this is all new to me. I worked full time over an hour away from home so was out of the house from 6.30am - 7.30am Monday to Friday.
I'm now on Mat Leave and I'm finding that people are knocking on my front door in the hopes that I'll give them money for something or other. Today was a breast cancer lottery.

I have absolutely nothing against charity - I pledge an amount every month to a chosen charity (even when I could really have done with the money myself!!)
But I'm the kind of person who can't just hang up on tele-sales people, can't walk away from street walking charity workers with the "gift of the gab". I listen to the people who have a big stand at the checkout and engage me in discussion because I hate the rudeness of just walking away. I usually listen and thank people and then say it's not for me, they are usually courteous and thank me for my time.

What I'm really struggling with is people knocking on my door. Why do people do this?? It's MY house and I shouldn't have people making me feel uncomfortable on my own doorstop, should I? What I want to know is whether IABU in putting a sign in the window such as the one I'm including in the post. I've had a really hard time in finding a sign that's not blatantly rude and verging on "get the fuck off my property". I accept people need to make a living so I simply want to say "no thank you".

Would you consider the sign rude?

You have a right to knock on my door gabsdot just as I have a right not to answer it. I had a bad experience when a man tried to force his way in so I do not answer to anyone I don't know. Out of interest do you ignore the cold calling signs?

Gabsdot, do the people whose doors you knock unannounced have a chance to supply the data via post / online first, perhaps with the help of carers?

My father for example is now completely bedbound and elderly. How might he best respond to your repeated knocking and seemingly insatiable need for data, other than getting very upset?

We don't usually get them but we are in an area of flats and townhouses with 2nd floor lounges. No one answers the door unless they see a delivery van through the upstairs window on the way down...

I can understand if you have sleeping babies or work shifts or have bolting dogs, but I don't get the resentment of cold callers otherwise.
I have a nice chat with JW every few months, never buy or sign anything at the door and daily cheery 'no thank you' chats.

It's not rude to just say "no thank you" and put the phone down, close the door or walk away. They are rude for interrupting your day uninvited in the first place. Yes, some of them will follow up with a sarcastic comment to try to make you feel guilty, but you shouldn't!

gabsdot just because it's your job doesn't mean you are entitled to bang on people's doors continuously.
What if the tenant is suffering from something like anxiety or other MH issue that would be aggravated by a stranger banging on their door. Or someone who is very poorly with an invisible illness making it difficult to detect in the first instance they are suffering?
Unless you are a court bailiff with a writ permitting you to enter the property or a police officer then nobody HAS to answer to you. Your job is not their problem. And your reply makes you sound like exactly the kind of arsehole who'd get told to piss off if you were stood on my doorstep with your entitled attitude. Get another job - preferably one where you are not dealing with people
face to face because it is obviously not your strong point

I am going to put up an array of these signs on my front door.

I often work from home and being interrupted by these arses is a total PITA.

The postman knows to wave to me through the window if he has a parcel, so I know to answer to him.

I got rid of one charity collector pretty sharpish the other day. He knocked at about 8pm and asked if I knew anything about the local hospice. I replied yes as my mother had died in it a few months ago. I've never seen anyone back away so quickly. I was chuckling about it as I went back into the living room and dh said I was mean! I never got the chance to say the usual of we don't do this at the door as he ran away!

I live in a second floor flat. I only answer the door when expecting a person or a delivery. There's no buzzing in system, so I'd have to come all the way down, and sorry, I won't. Gabsdot, you really need to get over yourself, no one owes you or your important government department anything. You can ring as much as you like, I'll shut the lounge door and I won't be able to hear it

As a night shift worker I get really annoyed by door to door callers. I don't want to turn my doorbell or phone off as DH has an elderly grandma nearby and there might be an emergency. YANBU for putting up a sign.