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Original poster

Door step seller! Help!

149 replies

Thehorrifiedone · 01/08/2020 17:58

Last week I had a door step seller at my door. Young uni kid who was selling educational books for kids.
I was interested to begin with, until he said the price was 3 "easy" payments of £99 for two lots of question books and some encyclopedias. I said I cannot afford that and he said he can do the question books for just £59. At this point (after a long 45 minutes) I just wanted him to go. I said yes, with the intention of cancelling, as I hate confrontion with a passion and will avoid it at all costs.
At the end, he said I am now subscribed to some kids gaming app which cost £20 a month! I didn't consent to having that at all and it made me a little bit mad. He then wanted a picture of him, me and my kids (who was there at the door with me) to prove to his company he was doing work. He said he did it with everyone and they all were ok. Left his card with social media address on and went.
I immediately cancel the subscription and books via email and thought that was it.

Over the couple of days, he has been knocking on my door. I've ignored it of course because I don't want anything to do with any of it.
Just now, I looked up his facebook and he has pictures of families with the products. Scrolling a little further down, I saw me and my children. I did not consent to be put up on social media at all! I've re-read all the terms and conditions and no where did it say anything about this. Surely this is in breach of something? Can I get it taken down?

OP posts:
ToffeePennie · 01/08/2020 18:56

@Charleyhorses southwestern advantage

BobbieDraper · 01/08/2020 19:00

So the law with photos is that anyone can take anyone else's photo in a public place and use it for whatever they like. It belongs to them and if you are in public then you do not have any expectations of privacy. Obviously some places have their own rules (schools, swimming pools etc). But if you take the photo in public, then you own it and can post it online. Business can take photos of customers around their shops and post them online etc.

The issue here is that the photo has been taken on your doorstep, but you said he could. If he had taken it without permission then you would be able to say you had an expectation of privacy but you gave him permission and the photo belongs to him.

Usually businesses will agree to remove an image, but you cant really contact the police regarding the photo.

Arthur2shedsJackson · 01/08/2020 19:03

Putting up a ‘no cold callers’ sign doesn’t always work. A long time ago I had a sticker on my door, provided by the police, which said, roughly, ‘I do not buy or sell at this door. I will expect full identification and will check on it.’
One day I was really busy doing something when the doorbell rang, and on the doorstep was a young man with a suitcase full of dusters, tea-towels, socket sets etc. ‘Can’t you read?’ I yelled at him, pointing at the sign. ‘Do you think I’d be doing this job if I could read?’ he replied.
I gave him a fiver.

SockYarn · 01/08/2020 19:06

Why would you EVER even engage with these people when you quite clearly have internet access to browse at your leisure.

No need to be rude - you say "No thank you" and close the door.

killerofmen · 01/08/2020 19:07

@iklboo I tried to get rid of someone by telling them I wasn't the home owner and they asked me to go get my parents. I was 26 Confused

Topseyt · 01/08/2020 19:08

A good, sharp "NO THANKS" and a slammed door works wonders. You certainly didn't need to spend 45 minutes with this arsehole.

It does sound as though you may have given him your bank details? Otherwise, how did he sign you up for the subscriptions that you have since cancelled? That is a real no-no. If you did then he now has your name, your address, your bank details and knows how many children you have (and possibly their names too?).

You need to work on your boundaries. Letting a stranger take pictures with himself, you and your children in is a risky thing to do. Very risky. You really don't know what his intentions were. Obviously he was going to post them on social media somewhere. Or have some use for them.

Did he give you his name (it may not have been his real name)?

There is a report option on FB. I'm pretty sure. Report the picture and ask them to take it down.

It could also easily be a scam. Call the police 101 number to see if they know of this and to report him (even if the name he has given you is not his real one). They may be aware of similar things happening and be looking for someone.

Don't shy off from confrontation with these people. Don't think that you mustn't be rude to them. They are bothering you, possibly scamming you and they are hardly being polite to you, are they? So tell them to bugger off. Don't mince words.

SockYarn · 01/08/2020 19:09

had someone from Safestyle cold call us at the door, I said we didn't want their services but he persisted so I gave him a fake phone number which his boss then tried to call and I had a bit of a meltdown

All of which could have been avoided by saying no and closing the door. What is so difficult about that?

Longwhiskers14 · 01/08/2020 19:11

@BobbieDraper

So the law with photos is that anyone can take anyone else's photo in a public place and use it for whatever they like. It belongs to them and if you are in public then you do not have any expectations of privacy. Obviously some places have their own rules (schools, swimming pools etc). But if you take the photo in public, then you own it and can post it online. Business can take photos of customers around their shops and post them online etc.

The issue here is that the photo has been taken on your doorstep, but you said he could. If he had taken it without permission then you would be able to say you had an expectation of privacy but you gave him permission and the photo belongs to him.

Usually businesses will agree to remove an image, but you cant really contact the police regarding the photo.

That's not strictly true. If someone's using the image for promotional or marketing purposes, they should have the subjects sign a waiver form agreeing for it to be used as such. It's standard practice for professional photographers. So even if the kid took it, OP still has the right to object to it being put on FB if she didn't sign the form.

But really, OP, you let a total stranger take a pic of your kids??

BeeTrees · 01/08/2020 19:12

Telling someone in haste “sorry I’ve got to go I’ve left my baby unattended in the bath to answer the door” and slamming the door usually works! And they usually say sorry too!

Runbitchrun · 01/08/2020 19:14

There’s so much wrong with this, but why on earth did you let him take a picture of you didn’t want it published anywhere?! I also agree with the fact that saying ‘no thanks’ and closing your door is not confrontation. Woman up.

Chloemol · 01/08/2020 19:14

If he is doing this on behalf of a company it should say on the details. Contact the company direct

Beautiful3 · 01/08/2020 19:16

This was your fault really. Next time you say, no thanks I'm not interested. If a seller asks for a photograph, you say no thanks I don't want to. Do not let them in and do not give bank/credit card details. That person could be anyone! Message him on social media and say you do not give permission to have your family picture on his fb. Contact the office to cancel via email, also inform your bank.

LuluJakey1 · 01/08/2020 19:18

I just say 'No thank you' and as they continue I say it again and close the door - always. I never let them give me the spiel.

iklboo · 01/08/2020 19:22

@killerofmen Grin. Follow up with 'okay. Have you got a shovel?'

Deathraystare · 01/08/2020 19:23

My mum was terrible at not saying no. I was at the door with her as a youngster. She was talked into a watchtower book that had animals (like lions) living happily alongside lions (I know I know but I was a kid!)

She also would get us to hide behind the settee when Asians came selling rugs and carpets. You can imagine how scared I was. I thought they all had scimitars and would cut us to ribbons.!!

Harmonyrays · 01/08/2020 19:24

Definetly sounds like the guy doing the rounds in salisbury!! Hes been reported to the police several times I believe!!

Original poster
Thehorrifiedone · 01/08/2020 19:24

@Charleyhorses @ToffeePennie yes, this was southwestern advantage. He also asked me if I knew anyone else with kids and showed me a list of names and addresses too!

OP posts:
Original poster
Thehorrifiedone · 01/08/2020 19:26

@mummyof2darlings no, not from Salisbury.

OP posts:
GoshHashana · 01/08/2020 19:26

@Deathraystare

My mum was terrible at not saying no. I was at the door with her as a youngster. She was talked into a watchtower book that had animals (like lions) living happily alongside lions (I know I know but I was a kid!)

She also would get us to hide behind the settee when Asians came selling rugs and carpets. You can imagine how scared I was. I thought they all had scimitars and would cut us to ribbons.!!

Why would they have had scimitars??
HyacynthBucket · 01/08/2020 19:27

Sorry if this offends, but I think you have been a total tit - how weak and spineless do you have to be to agree to his face to something you do not want, pay up, and then cancel behind his back? I don't even know if he was a scammer or genuine - that is not the decent way to treat someone, just because you cannot find it in yourself to say No in an honest way.

Hemelbelle · 01/08/2020 19:28

Like others have said get a 'we do not buy or sell at this door' sign. Even if they can't read, as in post above, they should be able to recognise the sign.

Abitouting · 01/08/2020 19:29

I honestly think this should be an illegal way of selling.

The last one I had said he was cold and could he come in. F* off!!!

ekidmxcl · 01/08/2020 19:29

Doorstep selling should be illegal. The vulnerable and polite get preyed upon. I cannot understand why it is allowed.

OP get a piece of paper and write "No cold callers, thank you"
And stick it by your doorbell

VodselForDinner · 01/08/2020 19:29

Wow. There’s disliking confrontation and being a complete walkover.

Seriously OP, you need to learn to stand up for yourself. I’m not a big fan of confrontation either, but a firm and polite “no thank you, I’m not interested” while you close the door works in 100% of these situations.

I’m stunned that you gathered your children around for this man to photograph.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 01/08/2020 19:32

he showed me a list of names and addresses too!

You do realise, don't you, that he probably got them from the electoral roll? And now you've allowed a complete unknown to inspect some of your house, photograph your kids and take some of your financial info Hmm

Next time simply say a calm "no thank you" and close the door