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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

About apparent ex-convicts selling door to door

92 replies

Trixiebelle16 · 21/01/2017 16:11

Just had one saying he was trying to get on the straight and narrow and wanted to come in and show me what was in his in bag to sell. I was at home with dd and said no - I didn't have any cash, which is true. He started getting very agitated begging me to let him in. I started feeling very intimidated and finally managed to get the door shut. Feel a bit shaken up. Has anyone else had this?

OP posts:

LIZS · 21/01/2017 16:18

We get them in batches a few times a year. I always refuse to buy. Is Middlesborough a particular criminal hub ? How many halfway houses are in Medway?

Original poster

Trixiebelle16 · 21/01/2017 16:19

There must be a better way of them making a living for themselves. Begging at the door must be so demoralising for them and it was certainly uncomfortable for me.

OP posts:

Brokenbiscuit · 21/01/2017 16:21

I've had these people round. I think it's probably a scam.

CakeNinja · 21/01/2017 16:24

Oh god, dp is forever buying chamois leathers for car cleaning from these guys, he has a soft spot for them as he has made some terrible mistakes in the past and was very lucky not to end up in prison himself. He says he believes everyone can turn their lives around and we should give them a chance. Which I do agree with.

We get our cars valeted once a week, have never ever cleaned them ourselves. he's a big softy really.

Chirrup5 · 21/01/2017 16:24

I hate this. Last one who knocked claimed to be an ex soldier trying to get back on his feet. I have a sticker on my door stating so cold callers\ salesmen\ religious people etc but it never deters these guys and they are generally quite rude and intimidating.

Honeyandfizz · 21/01/2017 16:25

I had one last year trying to sell me stuff I could buy from Poundland. When I politely declined he shouted at me "I'm not asking you to buy me a ducking house" and grabbed his bag in a huff. I was shocked by his response as he assured me he was trying to get back on the straight & narrow. Swearing & intimidating people in their own homes isn't the straight & narrow!

TheNiffler · 21/01/2017 16:31

This IS a scam, we regularly get this reported in the local papers, and the advice is always to report to the police. Police were interested when we did, and took loads of details, including a description. Houses round here were leaflets shortly after, warning people. We have a high proportion of elderly people living here, and it's a low crime areas, so they're hot on stuff like this - I guess our police force isn't quite so overstretched as others.

Floridasunset · 21/01/2017 16:33

I have never had one insist on coming in so that would make me very suspicious.
I am very cynical but i worry they are trying to scout places to burgle so say no and shut the door pretty quickly.

I know there are genuine people who want to rehabilitate but unfortunately you don't know who is genuine

Original poster

Trixiebelle16 · 21/01/2017 16:33

The thing is, I don't know who he is, I'm not going to let a stranger into my house especially one who says he's "been a bad boy". Feel annoyed too - he saw I was a youngish female and decided he could be intimidating.

OP posts:

MyWineTime · 21/01/2017 16:34

Definitely a scam.
There are no such schemes run for ex-offenders.

AppleMagic · 21/01/2017 16:35

It's a scam.

Honeyandfizz · 21/01/2017 16:35

*Fucking not ducking!!

WatchingFromTheWings · 21/01/2017 16:35

I'd be calling the police if someone knocked my door insisting on being let into sell something. If it was someone elderly/vulnerable there's no telling what might happen.

SquatBetty · 21/01/2017 16:38

Yeah we get them round our way fairly regularly. The spiel is ALWAYS the same ' hiya love, I've just been released from prison blah blah blah'. They've never got as far as opening their bag to show me their pound shop wares as I just point to our very obvious no cold callers sign which many of them claim to be too dyslexic to read! And then I shut the door

Tiresome little bastards

Domino20 · 21/01/2017 16:38

Well known scam!

FurryLittleTwerp · 21/01/2017 16:46

We get them. I just say No Thanks & close the door.

We had aggressive fish-sellers once, selling stolen fish! One kept bringing more & more from the van while the other had his foot & a basket jammed in the door, saying, "Do you like fish? Do you?, Lovely bit of salmon?, cod? oh yes, prawns? How about a pack of crab sticks?" despite my repeatedly saying no thanks & then said, "That'll be £150, cash!"

They left in the end when I said I had no money to pay them, swearing & ranting down the street

I rang the Police who were very interested & wanted all the details. They sent leaflets round a few days later.

TheNiffler · 21/01/2017 16:48

Stolen fish!

Round here they get accused of casing out dogs to steal. Unfortunately, it's a legit company, and they've got a fair bit of grief over the last few years.

PinkSwimGoggles · 21/01/2017 16:54

according to our neighbourhood watch it's a scam.

if they really were selling something and not just trying to assess your valuables and door locks, they would be showing their wares at the door or giving you a catalogue and would just move on if you declined.

TheLaughingGnome · 21/01/2017 16:57

My husband ended up phoning the police once after one was very quick to jump to aggression. The police came round because it's a total scam and intimidation and public order offence. They said to just threaten to call the police if they call round again. When you think about it, there's no way a charitable scheme would send ex convicts to knock on people's doors, does it?

Timetogetup0630 · 21/01/2017 17:00

We get batches of these ex offenders calling door to door.
They come from Northern and Midlands cities.
I once said I don't want anything but can I give you £5 anyway and the guy refused, Said he was not allowed to take hand outs.
They are usually polite and respectful and have spent hours trudging up and down the hills in our district.
I always assumed they were genuine.
If it is a scam it's not a very lucrative one.
I am a cheap duster buyer too.

Chottie · 21/01/2017 17:00

We regularly have so called ex con, ex military trying to sell household stuff knocking on the door.

We also have young people asking for sponsorship to complete walks / runs /mountain climbs / cycle rides for charity.

Our local police have told us that they are all scams.

Chottie · 21/01/2017 17:01

p.s we also had the fish man calling

CigarsofthePharoahs · 21/01/2017 17:01

We had someone turn up a few weeks ago. I felt rather sorry for him, he seemed genuinely embarrassed to be doing it. He did have some ID, but I just said that I don't buy at the door like that and he went away without any trouble.
Are there any legit ex prisoner schemes like this or are they all a con?

PinkSwimGoggles · 21/01/2017 17:03

what these guys want is checking your house out and to get information from you about when the house is unattended. 'must be stressful - school run and full time work...'

TheNiffler · 21/01/2017 17:03

They are ALL a con. And yes, v prevalent in the Midlands. We've had the ex military one too, and paintings, v bad paintings.

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