Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
PuppyMonkey · 21/01/2017 17:04

I've heard them called "Nottingham Knockers" - -- which I find Grin as thats where I come from.

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 21/01/2017 17:08

Urgh I had this when I was round my Nana's as a teenager, she asked me to go get her handbag and I stupidly did - I should have been quicker thinking and said it wasn't there/couldn't find it or told them to get fucked scamming an elderly woman Sad I did ring my DM and I rang the police who came round pretty sharpish and said not to buy and to call them again if they came back.

Andrewofgg · 21/01/2017 17:11

This is what door-chains and spyholes are for, isn't it?

CripsSandwiches · 21/01/2017 17:12

I had one (not sure if he said he was ex con or ex army) and bought a torch from him which didn't work.

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 21/01/2017 17:45

Andrewofgg my Nana's porch and front door are pretty much all glass, it really isn't safe as someone can see you way before you get to the door. Also she was expecting one of my uncles so assumed it was them and went to the door.

Andrewofgg · 21/01/2017 20:15

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter She needs a curtain on the inside with a spyhole cut in it, doesn't she? I hope she at least has a chain.

Original poster
Trixiebelle16 · 21/01/2017 22:09

There should be a ban on doorstep touting full stop.

OP posts:
thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 21/01/2017 22:14

Sadly Andrewofgg she's in a care home now.

123bananas · 21/01/2017 22:18

We had a group calling last year, only one came to our door, but DH saw the group whilst out at the shop later.

We phoned 101 who came out and drove round the area until they found them. We have a high proportion of elderly in our area and felt that these young men would have been intimidating to them. It was also winter and dark. They weren't with us (DH looks like you shouldn't mess with him).

Purplepearle · 21/01/2017 22:19

I've been confused by these sellers.

I remember a couple/few years ago one knocked at the door just as I was leaving (had handbag on arm) and thought it must be a very difficult thing to do, so bought a few items. He was polite and didn't ask to come into the house. I recall some items were overpriced and I'm sure the total amount was higher than the individual prices! But spent around a tenner/20quid.
Haven't (touch wood!) been burgled since. I remembered the seller as he was polite and showed me a photo of his baby and was good looking so remembered the face.

He knocked at the door recently but I was busy and just said this, which he was fine about and went.

Therefore it must be a scam for the same person to do the same out of prison chat years later. Although surely there are easier ways to 'case' a house.

(Also live in the Midlands which reading the link seems to be a popular scam here).

Lesley1980 · 21/01/2017 22:19

We get this a lot in the summer. When it first happened I called the police as it was just me & my new born in the house & it didn't feel right. The police came to the area & looked for him. They said it's a scam. Gangs from England drive up in buses & target an area.

ExitPursuedBySpartacus · 21/01/2017 22:20

We get them and my local fb page has people saying Aw they are legit poor chaps.

There are only so many chamois leathers I want to buy for £9.99 and the last one I refused got quite arsey with me as I wouldn't open the door properly as the dog was trying to escape.

Bushymuffmum · 21/01/2017 22:21

We get these guys round occasionally (South Manchester) but they have certainly never asked to come in the house. They always start by saying "I recently got out of prison miss, nothing bad just a minor crime - I'm not a bad lad etc etc.." - I sometimes buy stuff (I'm a bit soft), sometimes don't - it depends if i need anything they have. Never had any problems with them, and never been robbed so they are not all scam merchants!

5foot5 · 21/01/2017 22:22

We get these sometimes but they have never been too pushy or abusive.

However it IS a scam. They are selling stuff you could get in Poundland for five times the price because they are counting on you feeling sorry for them. Presumably the people who come to your door are being paid by whoever runs the operation and rakes off the profits

KarmaNoMore · 21/01/2017 22:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheNiffler · 21/01/2017 22:27

Bushy it IS a scam, there are NO charities that do this. Just because you've not been burgled, doesn't mean it's legit. Please don't buy from them.

Bushymuffmum · 21/01/2017 22:32

Oh I know it's not for a charity niffler, I'm not that bloody naive! But if they're selling stuff and I want something (I actually bought a really good telescopic duster the last time) - I don't see the harm. They're just trying to get by like everyone else which I suppose, with a criminal record, can be very hard.
I also Don't blame anyone who sends them away though.

TheNiffler · 21/01/2017 22:34

You're encouraging it though.

empirerecordsrocked · 21/01/2017 22:34

It's a scam and has been for donkeys years, I remember them coming round when I was a kid. I just don't answer the door now - we get them sporadically.

Twogoats · 21/01/2017 22:40

Legit or not, it shouldn't be encouraged.

Bushymuffmum · 21/01/2017 22:45

You have a point niffler - but don't you think, if nobody bought anything and they weren't making any money then they may just return to a life of crime?
At least they're trying to do something with their lives. Remember these people probably have no qualifications. Think of the backgrounds theyre likely to come from.
Door to door selling is not an easy job, im certain they are not making much money (I suspect 90% of people slam the door in their faces).
So I'm thinking there aren't many other options out there if they want an 'honest' job.

TheNiffler · 21/01/2017 22:49

They're not in danger of returning to a life of crime, they ARE criminals. Next time, tell the police, and see what their response is. Or consider the people that are buying from them because they feel sorry for them, or believe them, but really can't afford to pay over the odds for a duster.

As I said, please don't buy from them, report them. You might not be affected, but others are.

Note3 · 21/01/2017 23:09

These are generally not ex offenders; they are generally current offenders who both claim unemployment benefit then usually go to a completely different county from where they live to peddle stuff they stole or got in the poundshop. Having chatted to several of these scammers I was horrified to hear they secure a person's agreement to buy something (often a vulnerable victim) then they make up the price and bully the person into seeing through the deal. One elderly lady exchanged £48 or thereabouts for a couple of cleaning cloths and a spray bottle.

Some police counties will not tolerate this at all. Others don't pay any notice unless the seller is making a clear issue such as harassment and aggression and reports of theft whilst in the home. They particularly like to 'help' partially sighted victims to get the cash out. Angry

Best you can do is a notice up, be firm, swift but non confrontational in declining their business. Then phone your local police number to notify.

ShooterMcGavin · 21/01/2017 23:19

They're hardly in danger of returning to a life of crime if what they are doing is actually crime!

Had one come round when I was home alone with a newborn baby. I said no thanks and he put his foot in the door as I tried to close it. I shrieked and he withdrew his foot, then went round to the front window and banged on it. My heart was racing. I called a neighbour who came straight round, but he'd scarpered. Police said what everyone above has already mentioned - scam, report to your local station asap.