AIBU to have reported doorstep seller

[Persilorariel]

Just had an illegal doorstep seller peddling dusters ring my doorbell.
No mask, trying to show me things in his bag. This annoys me at the best of times, but now? Cases are really high, wasn’t very happy at being told to move on.

AIBU to report this peddler without a licence to the local police? I’ve already done it via an online form, but I’m not being too harsh am I? I can just image someone vulnerable rummaging in his bag and having a nice chat.

Note - I’m well aware of the colloquial NN name for these people, don’t want to offend any Nottingham people.

www.gov.uk/pedlars-certificate

@avocadosbeforemortgages. No, I did not ask to see the certificate. He was not wearing a mask, and I didn’t want to be anywhere near him.

I’ve had a reply from the police, who are grateful for the report.

I think the licence/certificate difference is immaterial. You may be correct in your terminology but even my local constabulary seem to think he needs a licence, see photo.

I don’t want their merchandise and tell them so. Neither do I want to be burgled or have my car keyed so my policy is to give them a fiver to go away. Yes, I know it’s like a protection racket but it’s practical.

I swear to God there are loads of trolls on MN right now winding people up.

Of course believe everyone who comes to your door and hand over cash. No cash? How about your laptop. Personally I would rather loose cash than potential not support a possible genuine conman seller. Plus who doesnt need cloths more expensive than you buy in sainsburys.

Give your head a wobble OP! Run after him and offer him your mobile and Visa card. Sessh

@VinylDetective

I don’t want their merchandise and tell them so. Neither do I want to be burgled or have my car keyed so my policy is to give them a fiver to go away. Yes, I know it’s like a protection racket but it’s practical.

Do you actually think that they will decide NOT to do either of those things based on the fact that you gave them £5?

Someone was doing that around here before Christmas.
But he was chalking driveways/gate posts with houses that contained dogs.

I'm sure the police are genuinely very grateful and are as we type putting together a multi disciplinary task force to deal with this atrocity.

A man came to your door and tried to sell you shite you don't want and you said no. This is nothing new.

Yes, those leaving the Army quite often have PTSD, poor lads
Many end uo homeless, but some are supported to do door to door selling as a sense of achievement and belonging
Door to door sales as rehabilitation? If there is one job that would seriously knock the confidence of someone even without any particular issues, surely it would have to be that one? Having doors shut in your face and selling one duster a day.
Of course you’re correct to be suspicious OP. As PP, if anyone purporting to actually does cares, support them the right way, through the recognised charities.

MN protocol states you MUST 'log with 101'

Do you actually think that they will decide NOT to do either of those things based on the fact that you gave them £5?

I think it makes it less likely than if I told them to piss off 🤷‍♀️ And neither of those things have happened to me, whereas my bolshie neighbours ...

Oh my god! I am a complete clown. I have fallen for this several times - about 3 times in my old home and once since moving here 3 years ago. They have always said that they are ex-offenders. I had a long conversation with the last one about how his mum was a bit worried that the scheme was taking advantage of him. I agreed and told him to listen to his mum. I also bought his oven gloves 😳
Perhaps I have never been burgled because I’m always really nice to them? I feel a right chump.

@Awwlookatmybabyspider

A sob story. What a disgusting comment. !!!!!!!!!!!!. This is someone who has fought for this Country and risked his life... Poor bloke was just trying to make some money. Well I hope you’re happy and pleased with yourself if ends up going further down hill.

Spectacularly missing the point eh?

By the way, I have a bridge for sale in Brooklyn. You interested? We can sit down and talk after I go pay my HMRC tax bill in ITunes vouchers......

@VeganVeal

MN protocol states you MUST 'log with 101'

NOW!!!!!

Yes, dear.

Oh.

My post should have quoted the posted mentioning the chalk.

We get them round here regularly, same old ex-offender story, our local FB pages is always full of warnings - especially by the people who they have sworn at or threatened for not buying their shite.

The police actively want to hear from you if they are in your area, criminal activity invariably follows.

Can't stand door to door sellers of any kind, but these peddlers of j cloths are particularly annoying, as said usually a con artist praying in the vulnerable.

Even the Jehovah's Witnesses aren't knocking anymore. We had a letter in the post from them yesterday instead!

Definitely YANBU to report them - we had a similar caller one day at my parents house (few years ago now) elderly DF was alone and took in the guys sob story and bought a bag of ‘products’ from him that were supposed to help him get back on his feet (apparently recently released from prison, unable to secure work due to criminal record but door to door sales would give him a work record for his CV!)

DF showed me the bag of stuff he’d bought for £50 😱 It contained some cheap yellow dusters, a couple of balsa wood models that needed assembling, some blue j-cloth type rags on a roll and a couple of other poor quality things. All had prices on them apart from the roll of j-cloths; when I added the prices up they came to £24 (and that was massively overpriced for what was probably worth no more than £5 from Pound shop) meaning the j-cloths were priced at £26😱😱

We contacted his bank as he had paid by cheque asking that they cancel the cheque but they would only do it if we had a crime number from the police so had to contact them too. They were happy to help as were doing a crackdown on elder financial abuse at the time and so came and took a statement, took photos of the stuff and left dad with some details in case the guy came back; they also advised us to keep the bag by the door for the seller (or his ‘boss’) to collect as the police suspected they would be round as soon as they knew the cheque had been cancelled - a a they were!!

what about Avon? had someone shove few little catalogues through the door the other day, in spite of my No Junk Mail sticker and we are in a pandemic FFS. I binned it. She can knock on Monday all she likes but I will not be answering the door, I have Covid. Unsolicited junk that comes through goes straight into my bin.

Some people are just idiots.

We recently had a 'deaf' seller at the door. Sadly for him I sign a bit... his random hand flapping have him away.

Our local PCSO was on to him about half an hour after they arrived in town. Small market towns aren't always easy places to scam, as they quickly found.

Even the Jehovah's Witnesses aren't knocking anymore

See ... if you look hard enough there really are a few benefits to Covid

And yes I also get the endless Avon catalogues, even with a "no junk mail" notice. The MLMer got quite upset when I said it all gets chucked ...

Yes I have also had the handwritten JW letter, stating that this pandemic is the end of times and only the good are going to be saved

Our JW letter came with an SAE. I didn't waste it.

I used the SAE to reply, telling them to remove my address from their mailings immediately. I also told them how disgusted I was that they spent roughly £1.20 per household sending out their pamphlets when they could have done much more good in the community by devoting the hundreds they had spent locally to a food bank.

I don't think I'll hear from them again.

@AdobeWanKenobi

Our JW letter came with an SAE. I didn't waste it.

I used the SAE to reply, telling them to remove my address from their mailings immediately. I also told them how disgusted I was that they spent roughly £1.20 per household sending out their pamphlets when they could have done much more good in the community by devoting the hundreds they had spent locally to a food bank.

I don't think I'll hear from them again.

You do know they pay for the stamps from their own pocket? And pay for the leaflets? Last time I looked people were allowed to spend their money as they choose.