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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be furious about salesmen knocking after kids bedtime!

99 replies

Murane · 15/05/2018 20:23

Just answered the door to a dodgy looking "salesman" in a tracksuit who claimed to be part of an ex-offenders scheme selling cleaning products. Out of a sports bag at night! Gave him very short shrift for waking my DC and slammed the door. Rang the police and apparently it's legit! Why on earth do the organisers think it's acceptable to send dodgy blokes round on a school night when everyone's kids will be in bed? I am absolutely furious and now have screaming DC to sort out!

OP posts:
kaytee87 · 15/05/2018 20:24

I had one of these guys round once. I didn't think it was legit either. I switch off my doorbell after ds goes to bed. If anyone I want to see comes round then they can phone me.

Wolfiefan · 15/05/2018 20:25

Furious? It's after 8pm not midnight. They're not hammering on your door and screaming through the letterbox? You possibly woke the kids when you slammed the door?! Hmm
Put up a sign to explain you don't buy from door to door salesmen.

notacooldad · 15/05/2018 20:25

You'd be better sorting your kids out first rather than writing a post on MN if they are screaming.

insancerre · 15/05/2018 20:26

Yabu
A knock on the door really should not wake your child

HarrietKettleWasHere · 15/05/2018 20:26

There's a name for those guys. Something to do with Nottingham maybe? They're a scam.

ErictheGuineaPig · 15/05/2018 20:30

It's really not that late. It's still broad daylight too. And if your kids are school age do they really start screaming when woken up? Perhaps put a sign on your door in future when they're asleep?

RunMummyRun68 · 15/05/2018 20:32

Furious? Really?

Go sort out your kids..., you obviously aren't too bothered!

JellyBellies · 15/05/2018 20:33

Is it really a scam? I bought from one of them Confused

MollyDaydream · 15/05/2018 20:35

It's not 'legit' as in a recognised young offenders scheme or charity - it's just door to door selling with a sob story.

ladybee28 · 15/05/2018 20:36

YABU – the majority of households do not have unbelievably light sleepers in bed at 8:00pm. Lots of people don't get home from work until 7; it's reasonable if you're hoping to catch someone to come by a bit later.

You may have screamy light-sleeping kids, but the rest of the world continues to turn as normal.

Is the issue here really the fact that someone knocked on your door? Or is it more that he was wearing a tracksuit and holding a sports bag?

HarrietKettleWasHere · 15/05/2018 20:37

www.safelocaltrades.com/consumers/advice/nottingham-knockers

mumofmany81 · 15/05/2018 20:38

Wow that poor guy. There are quite strict rules on this - the type of offensive has to be minor and they have to really be trying to get themselves back on the level. I've had several of them come to me over the years and I always try to find something to buy. If they sell over a certain amount they get a discounted hostel space that night.

I think it's a massive overreaction to be furious because someone came to your house at 8pm. It's hardly midnight and I would look at it as a positive that he's trying to help himself rather than going back to crime. It's sad then that he comes across people as rude as you who just write him off as a dodgy bloke. I can't imagine how hard it is to knock at a strangers door and admit you've been in prison - I would imagine for many it's easier to go back to crime.

ineedamoreadultieradult · 15/05/2018 20:38

On light nights I would say anything up to 9pm would be reasonable for door knocking. A knock on the door shouldn't be enough to wake anyone up and there is no rule saying you had to answer it.

ikeepaforkinmypurse · 15/05/2018 20:39

it's absolutely not legit! In my area, they are always reported to the police because their visits tend to coincide with burglaries and petty thefts.

I think 8pm is too late to disturb people, it doesn't matter if you have kids or not, it's just rude.

MollyDaydream · 15/05/2018 20:40

I would be furious to have my evening disturbed by some dodgy bloke flogging overpriced dusters!

MiggeldyHiggins · 15/05/2018 20:41

If your kids are screaming because someone knocked on the door you've got bigger issues. Best put up a sign or something.

BelieveAnything · 15/05/2018 20:42

Put a sign up. I have one and it stops almost all cold callers. Except the Jehovahs Witnessess who don’t think the sign applies to them even though it clearly says No Cold Callers. Idiots.

lightcola · 15/05/2018 20:42

I get pissed by evening sales/charity people too OP. I want to relax at the end of the day, bit buy overpriced cleaning products.

I had a Nottingham knocker too the other day and also called the police. They can legally do it but they’re usually not ex offenders and sometimes it’s a way for them to check out houses in the area. So you were right to be weary.

deadringer · 15/05/2018 20:45

It's annoying but hardly deserves full on fury. Yabu

Original poster
Murane · 15/05/2018 20:46

If someone rings the bell (which is loud so I can hear it in the back garden) the dogs bark, which makes the baby scream, and then everyone is awake. Currently sitting on the sofa with my dinner going cold, the baby being breastfed to calm him, and other DS cuddled into my side watching tv. Will have to do the whole bedtime routine again an hour after everyone was down for the night!

Imo 6pm is fine but no salesman should be disturbing people after 8! If it's a genuine scheme they should be dressed smartly and calling at a reasonable time, not wearing track suits and flogging stuff out of a bag!

OP posts:
Luisa27 · 15/05/2018 20:49

There are some reputable organisations who do this.
I’ve bought from them before....always rather admire them actually- I wouldn’t fancy trying to earn a living by knocking on doors and (sometimes) getting a mouthful of abuse.
How do you usually manage OP if someone knocks on your door after 8pm? Do your children always react like this? Hope they manage to settle...

NewYearNewMe18 · 15/05/2018 20:50

It's a scam. Not an official youth offenders programme at all. Plenty of articles out there about it.

findingmyfeet12 · 15/05/2018 20:50

Are people's evenings really "disturbed" by a knock at the door? How big are your houses that you have to walk for miles to open your front doors?

It takes seconds to say sorry youre not interested.

Also, why not remove the bell or knocker every evening if people aren't allowed to use it? How would they know?

Luisa27 · 15/05/2018 20:51

Well said @mumofmany81

Bluebellsinthegarden · 15/05/2018 20:52

It annoys me when the doorbell goes during the day and the LOs are asleep. The dog goes mental and almost always wakes them up. 9 times out of 10 it’s an amazon parcel for an absent neighbour. The looks the delivery guy gets from me... I’m surprised he bothers knocking again.