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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that 9pm is too late for charity clipboard door to door folk?

77 replies

Girlwiththearabstrap · 09/08/2018 20:56

Just had a knock at the door from a British Heart Foundation worker trying to do the whole direct debit sign up thing. DD1 is already in bed and I was feeding DD2. I would have just left it but our upstairs neighbour is terminally ill and her daughter visits regularly so I answered in case there was something wrong.

Anyway. I was polite in telling the guy to go away. But WIBU to tell him that 9pm is too late to be visiting houses to try and get people to sign up for charity things? Or am I just old and grumpy?

OP posts:
SomeKnobend · 09/08/2018 20:58

Yanbu, far too late.

ItsJustASimpleLine · 09/08/2018 20:58

Far to late. If they'd woken my k8ds I'd of told them it was their job to get them back to sleep !

Anonnymouse54321 · 09/08/2018 21:01

Personally I think no time is appropriate for this. It's always the BHF as well.

Get one of those no cold caller stickers. Doesn't always stop them mind. I've pointed it out to the Virgin guy before and he just looked and went "yeah I know" before carrying on. I went straight on twitter and told Virgin to teach their staff what 'no cold callers' meant.

Norma27 · 09/08/2018 21:01

To be honest any time is the wrong time. I hate chuggers knocking on my door trying to guilt trip me.

SnuggyBuggy · 09/08/2018 21:02

Definitely too late

Ihatexbox · 09/08/2018 21:03

I've just had someone from an Alzheimers charity knocking on my door! I wonder how much they raise going from door to door? I would have thought it would have quite a negative effect - disturbing people in the evenings might mean they feel less charitable? But judging by the fact that this is the 3rd charity in as many months knocking on my door in the evening it must be quite fruitful.

user1499173618 · 09/08/2018 21:06

Far too late to be calling at someone’s home uninvited/unannounced AND to ask for favours, Bloody nerve.

Rebecca36 · 09/08/2018 21:06

Yes, too late.

Bananalanacake · 09/08/2018 21:06

But what if you were to give them your bank details and then as they leave they get attacked by a mugger. Them the mugger has all those bank detailsConfused

MrSpock · 09/08/2018 21:06

I used to do this job.

Our hours were 3-9. We all thought 9 was too late as well but if we stopped knocking on doors we got told off.

We all hated it after 8 because customers got really arsey, and I completely understand why.

Know that most of the people doing that are uni students trying to make extra cash, not horrible people trying to ruin your evening.

MrSpock · 09/08/2018 21:07

Get one of those no cold caller stickers. Doesn't always stop them mind.

We were told to ignore those, and if we didn’t we also got in a lot of trouble. I got yelled at by so many people because apparently I was stupid and couldn’t read. Hmm

NotAsGreenAsCabbageLooking · 09/08/2018 21:08

There is no escape!! I am already signed up to a couple of charities, and I can’t commit any more of my income.

I also work in a town centre where several ‘sign up’ companies camp out on the Main Street. I have to run that particular gauntlet four times a day sometimes, getting harassed by charities, utility bill companies, credit card companies, etc. It’s a bit exhausting!

I really wish they weren’t allowed 😕

Gojira · 09/08/2018 21:08

I had one who barged past me to use the toilet once! I was so taken aback that I was left speechless for several seconds until I shouted at her to get out. My dogs went crazy too which helped hurry her out of the door!

I always look through the peep hole these days - if it's anyone holding a clipboard, I ignore.

MrSpock · 09/08/2018 21:08

I've just had someone from an Alzheimers charity knocking on my door! I wonder how much they raise going from door to door? I would have thought it would have quite a negative effect - disturbing people in the evenings might mean they feel less charitable? But judging by the fact that this is the 3rd charity in as many months knocking on my door in the evening it must be quite fruitful.

The average rate was, I believe, 1 in ten, but we never found that. We used to maybe get 2-4 sign ups a night for six hours work.

JacquesHammer · 09/08/2018 21:08

Massively inappropriate at any time of day but 9pm is outrageous. Please do complain OP.

We had a BHF lot a few months back conveniently ignoring the “no cold calling” area signs.

MVLipwig · 09/08/2018 21:09

I mean I disagree with them in general, but why is 9 so bad? Most people home from work, not eating dinner, sounds good to me. It’s only those with small children which is a minority of the population

jarhead123 · 09/08/2018 21:11

Far too late. I hate doorstop knockers.

JacquesHammer · 09/08/2018 21:11

Most people home from work

Indeed. And maybe wanting to relax without being interrupted by unsolicited callers?

Original poster
Girlwiththearabstrap · 09/08/2018 21:15

Oh good, I thought I was just being grumpy!

@MrSpock
I don't think anyone said they were horrible people. And I wasn't rude. I just found it quite intrusive and told him that.

How would I go about complaining do you think? A message on social media? I feel a bit bad complaining publicly about a charity.

OP posts:
MrSpock · 09/08/2018 21:18

Definitely complain! They don’t take the employees word for it that customers hate this.

If you had asked, the bloke would’ve had to give you the complaints card. I don’t know how you’d get it now because these people don’t work for the charity, they work for companies that the charity employs.

DesignStatement · 09/08/2018 21:18

I don't think they should come round knocking at all - cold calling in unacceptable. 9pm is ridiculous for any 'visitors'.

MrSpock · 09/08/2018 21:19

Probably messaging their social media page would be the best.

Anonnymouse54321 · 09/08/2018 21:19

"We were told to ignore those, and if we didn’t we also got in a lot of trouble"

That's not allowed. A friend is a police officer and he gives anyone who ignores his sign a short shrift.

Found this:

"Cold calling is not illegal. However, any trader that ignores a sticker or notice on your door stating that you do not wish to receive cold calls may be committing a criminal offence. ... Anyone who fails to give this notice will also be committing a criminal offence, which Trading Standards can investigate."

MrSpock · 09/08/2018 21:20

That's not allowed. A friend is a police officer and he gives anyone who ignores his sign a short shrift.

I think there’s an exception for charity work because they aren’t classed as sellers. That’s what we were told when I did it!

porkinmyteeth · 09/08/2018 21:20

@Bananalanacake that's a bloody good point!!! 😱