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AIBU?

RSPCA canvassers knocking on door

83 replies

KnackeredOldWoman · 30/03/2017 20:25

RSPCA charity canvassers were in my road earlier on today. At about lunchtime they knocked on my door and I ignored it, they then knocked again at about 6.30, again I ignored and they have now just knocked again at 8.15pm and woken the DC's up , my DD is autistic and she had just dropped off to sleep. She's now downstairs, wide awake

I'm so annoyed, it's so selfish and intrusive. AIBU?

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Note3 · 31/03/2017 10:51

Although I am massively against door step selling and canvassing I can recall one time I was really grateful.

I had been in about 10 mins from school run. Sitting in dark lounge with migraine whilst kids entertained themselves and baby skept on me. Knock at door, there stands a charity collector. I said I had migraine and couldn't talk and went to shut door and he very kindly stopped me and pointed out I'd left my keys in it on the outside.

TheMaddHugger · 31/03/2017 09:09

She had the cheek to ask me if I'd really miss £3 a month! I told her to pay it herself and shit the door
Littlelegs19 Fri 31-Mar-17 08:14:36
I certainly didn't shit the door! blush shut!

certainly the best laugh I've had all day. I Thanks You

FineSally · 31/03/2017 08:44

I have one of those signs. No cold callers, no charity bags, no catalogues, no canvassers. A lot of people respect it, but there are also many who ignore it (or can't read)

I'm always amazed at the people who start off with "Its not a sales call" then (try to) give you a five minute script about free estimates for some amazing product or other. I had a phase of energy suppliers doing this, till they were banned from doorstepping. I usually cut them short, point to the sign and then shut the door.

A couple of weeks ago I did this, and the guy immediately rang the bell again. I ignored him. He continued for another couple of minutes, then I opened the door and told him (admittedly not very politely) to go away. He swore at me as I shut the door, and I heard him kicking my planter as he went. I can't understand his mentality. Surely, if I made it clear I wasn't interested in ANYTHING he wanted to sell, he was just wasting his time trying again?

The last RSPCA guy asked me why I wasn't interested in supporting them. I said, if you want the full diatribe it will probably take me half an hour, so why don't you just save your time and leave? He didn't look too happy but did go without further argument.

I am happy to support other animal charities but the RSPCA is one I am actively against supporting for many reasons including their politics.

sirfredfredgeorge · 31/03/2017 08:38

AppleMagic Was that a couple of years ago? If it not complain, the lack of complaints is what allows this to continue, if they actually got fined, they'd stop paying people to break the rules.

Littlelegs19 · 31/03/2017 08:14

I certainly didn't shit the door! shut!

AppleMagic · 31/03/2017 08:13

When I complained about RSPCA collectors I was told they are trained to ignore "no cold caller" signs unless they specifically say "no charities"

Littlelegs19 · 31/03/2017 08:13

We have a lot of this where we live. The RSPCA people knocked on the door and while they were reading their script, saw my cats on the couch and literally pushed in to see them. I was so shocked I didn't know what to say. Then she says "as I'm in now, shall we discuss how much a month you can afford?"
I was I politely---- told her to get out my house before I called the police.

Last week I was cutting chicken for dinner while baby was chilling in his bouncy chair. Door goes and she's trying to talk about baby. I'm thinking there's chicken on the side, god help you if I go back to it and the cars got at it!
Lady barely starts here script and I said "I'll stop you there I'm on maternity leave so there's no money." She had the cheek to ask me if I'd really miss £3 a month! I told her to pay it herself and shit the door. About 2 hours later someone from the same charity knocked again.

I think it's begging, if I want to give to a charity I will, don't come knocking on my door asking for money.

TwentyCups · 31/03/2017 08:08

This would be unreasonable of them if you have a sign. If you complain they will apologise, but since the haven't done anything wrong (legally) nothing will change. This charity may not knock again but others will do. Get the sign and then you can report anyone who ignores it.

Runny · 31/03/2017 08:08

I wouldn't piss on the RSPCA if it were on fire. They are useless. The 'I'm guessing you are an animal lover?' When they've seen my cat in ten window is a tactic they've used on me as well. Yes I am an animal lover, but you lot are only in it for the money and only pursue cases where there is big money involved.

Give your money to a local shelter instead.

abbsisspartacus · 31/03/2017 07:59

I had a sign they ripped it off now I just ignore the door or at a push I open the window and tell them no

WateryTart · 31/03/2017 07:47

Put a sign on your door saying no charity callers. Job done.

Cinderpi · 31/03/2017 07:43

So much sympathy for you. We had energy scammers here yesterday ("have you read the very important energy report we sent you? It was VERY IMPORTANT! 65% of your street are paying too much for energy")

At that point I pointed to screaming 5 month old and ranted about how he had woken her to try to sell me stuff, how I haven't slept in 5 months and I was NOT HAPPY!

He didn't hang around, and when he tried the street again in the evening he didn't knock at my door... I felt slightly guilty as I'm not normally ranty but she hasn't napped in weeks...

Lala198 · 31/03/2017 07:41

I have a young child. I hate it when he's woken. So I got a sign and it's not happened since. Not not sympathetic, it's bloody annoying when someone wakes your DC up. But there's a solution in getting a sign, so I'd suggest doing that.

I didn't understand the need to bring the CEO salary into the equation and it's an easy thing to find out as it is disclosed in the annual report.

The occasional person who ignores my sign gets a flea in their ear

TheMaddHugger · 31/03/2017 07:16

(((((((((((big soft Hugs)))))))))) OP

I really feel for you dealing with the aftermath of a child woken too soon.

You are the one dealing with a child in melt down. Not the posters here with No Experience of dealing with this in the moment.

Lala198 · 31/03/2017 06:17

Just put up a sign saying no cold callers please. You can download and print off in a few minutes.

The CEO salary is in the annual report. It's lower than the usual amount for a CEO of a large organisation.

Unfortunately the door to door fundraisers are an outside company so not RSPCA employees.

Do complain if you feel strongly enough but a sign will fix it. No biggie.

PinkCrystal · 30/03/2017 23:44

Yanbu they're a pain. I don't answer door unless someone is expected.

SlinkyTink · 30/03/2017 23:31

YABU not to have a sign. I have one and it works a treat.

JaniceBattersby · 30/03/2017 23:30

I really don't like door-to-door fundraising. It's basically pressure selling.

However, I understand why charities do it. If it works, then I guess it's not the end of the world.

What does royally piss me off though is when they knock on the door and the first thing they say is 'don't worry, I'm not going to ask you for any money...' and then ask you to sign a direct debit. FUCK OFF.

I had the RSPCA at my door a couple of weeks ago. His opening gambit was "I'm guessing you like animals like all of your neighbors around here?"

Me: "No."

Him: "What, you don't like any animals?"

Me: "No. I hate them."

Him: "But you don't like cruelty to animals, right?"

Me: "Wrong. I think everyone should be cruel to animals."

He left. And then he probably reported me to the RSPCA for being an animal-hating bastard.

(I don't hate all animals. Just most of them )

sirfredfredgeorge · 30/03/2017 23:19

Even if I say no thank you over the intercom, they still manage to get in and then knock on all the doors, disturbing us further.

That's a breach of the code, they have to get permission from everyone at the door. For this (and any ignoring of "no cold caller signs" or other breaches) don't just sit point or seethe, make a complaint, they like you to complain to the charity first, but:

www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/make-a-complaint/complain-about-a-fundraising-approach/

NotReallyMeToday · 30/03/2017 23:17

I have a lot of time on my hands? I'm not sure that >5 min every couple of months exactly counts, but I get this isn't really a post where the OP is asking if she's U or wants a resolution or advice. It's someone venting about a minor annoyance, which is fair enough.

rumblingDMexploitingbstds · 30/03/2017 22:56

Sorry for the rant OP. Hope your dd has settled, and yes, agree it's very annoying. Amazon do signs quite cheaply.

rumblingDMexploitingbstds · 30/03/2017 22:54

And police/fire/etc will shout through the letter box or bang on the windows if need be, and neighbours/friends/relatives will text.

Not a problem.

rumblingDMexploitingbstds · 30/03/2017 22:52

It's extremely precious not to answer a knock at the door?

I've heard it all now....

No, it's not. It's my home. It's my time. It's my door. I may or may not choose to answer it depending on whether I feel like it. If I'm in the bath, busy with paperwork or a phone call, or as bloody today in serious pain as I often am so getting up to answer the door to yet another sales pitch is hard work and very painful, I'm absolutely free to make the decision to let that person knock all they like without feeling compelled to do anything.

I want to live in hop 's street. They're so frequent here I ended up buying a sign, which has helped. Apart from frigging Anglia Windows who insist that they're not selling anything so the notice doesn't apply to them.....

Yes, they just dropped round for a friendly chat, nothing to do with windows at all!

BlueBlueSkies · 30/03/2017 22:42

I see it as a perfectly valid way of fundraising or selling. I have signed up for charity donations and bought subscription flowers too at the door.

I am always polite to them, they are making a big difference to the charity. One door to door fundraiser can generate well over 100k in donations a year, much more than they cost.

For the charities I do not want to support, I tell them that I already support the charity and that they are doing a great job. Quick, easy conversation with a smile .

KnackeredOldWoman · 30/03/2017 22:34

I know who's at my door without having to open it Erica. I do have windows.

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