Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

Original poster

Would you report this man??

19 replies

nothankyousir · 12/04/2023 17:45

AIBU?

Just popped out to grab the bins, and I noticed a man in a hi vis jacket knocking on my neighbours door (elderly lady by herself). No answer so he came over to me and explained that he was with BT and wanted to tell me all about the “great” deal he had for me blah blah. I politely explained that I was working from home and had just ran out to fetch the bins, but that I didn’t have time to talk unfortunately. He didn’t take any notice and just carried on asking me about who I was with, how much do I pay. I told him that I wasn’t looking to change as I’ve had no issues with my current supplier. My partner actually pays for the wifi anyway so I told him that I wasn’t able to agree to anything without checking with him first, but that if he wanted to leave a card with me I could always call him if we wanted to switch in the future.

This wasn’t good enough. He didn’t have any cards apparently - only a tablet type thing and said he could sign me up free of charge and if I changed my mind all I’d have to do is ring up and cancel the order. Yeah great, but why should I spend my time ringing up to cancel something that I don’t want and didn’t ask for??? Most of the time when you try and cancel things it doesn't bloody work anyway. I was doing anything I could to not sign up to this thing, and even said I’d call BT myself (since he didn’t have a business card) if I wanted to change at some point. He was just so fucking persistent that I ended up having to say “look I don’t want it, thank you, but I don’t want” in a really stern voice. He got the message then, but ffs. Why did I have to say it 3 times and snap for him to understand? I understand they are just doing a job and need to make a sale but that’s not the way to go about it and I actually won’t even consider using BT now because of that experience. I actually felt intimidated as I was home alone and we were stood just outside the front door. I wouldn't have answered the door but he caught me just as I walking down the drive.

I’ve just told my partner and he said I should have walked off and slammed the door in his face, but I don’t like being rude to people. He also said I should report him but I’m on the fence. I’m just glad my neighbour didn’t answer the door to him.

OP posts:

Original poster

nothankyousir · 12/04/2023 18:22

Maybe I am haha

OP posts:

Merryoldgoat · 12/04/2023 18:24

Your partner is right.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 12/04/2023 18:25

I'd imagine the chance of him actually being from BT is almost nil. There's no way an actual person from BT would 1) not have ID, and 2) be knocking on random doors trying to sign people up.

postapesto · 12/04/2023 18:25

Report him to who, for what? To his bosses, for doing what they told him to do?

No, you engaged with him, you didn't have to. You just say "No thank you, Goodbye" and close the door.

Don't talk to people at length and then complain your time was wasted by talking to them.

BakedTattie · 12/04/2023 18:26

I’d have just gone in and shut the door

Yellowrosesmakemehappy · 12/04/2023 18:26

I stop them in their tracks “sorry I’m not interested, thanks though, soooorry (as door closes on them”

Dacadactyl · 12/04/2023 18:27

I wouldn't report him. But I wouldn't have let him keep me as long either. If someone's not backing off then be stern.

WeWereInParis · 12/04/2023 18:29

I’ve just told my partner and he said I should have walked off and slammed the door in his face, but I don’t like being rude to people.

I appreciate he had a job to do, but I don't really have an issue being rude to people who are rude to me, and I think being that persistent and not listening to you saying no is rude. I wouldn't be actively rude, as in I wouldn't swear or be insulting. But I will just say "no thank you" and shut the door/hang up the phone regardless of their protests.

I also agree with a PP that he may not actually work for BT.

Avatartar · 12/04/2023 18:31

Report him to local community police and trading standards - he’s a con man and the elderly etc are vulnerable - get him off the streets

postapesto · 12/04/2023 18:33

Avatartar · 12/04/2023 18:31

Report him to local community police and trading standards - he’s a con man and the elderly etc are vulnerable - get him off the streets

How is he a con man? OP didn't say he didn't have ID, just that he didn;t have a business card (and why would he, it's not 1965).

Sounds exactly like he was from BT to me.

tulippa · 12/04/2023 18:45

A quick, firm 'no thanks, I don't sign up to anything unsolicited' before shutting the door/walking straight off saves everyone from wasting their time and getting annoyed with each other.

Blossomandbee · 12/04/2023 18:51

I wouldn't report him, they're a nuisance yes, but it's their job. You have to be very firm with them.
We get loads of them round where I live, I've only complained about one who was from a charity who got passive aggressive with me.

Dilemma19 · 12/04/2023 19:08

I put the phone down mid call on someone trying to get me to upgrade my phone package recently. I firstly explained it was a bad time to call, they then proceeded to tell me it will only be 5 mins and I said it's a bad time and they again started to talk again and I cut the call.

CuriouslyDifferent · 12/04/2023 19:12

If anything like this happens again - you can use the phrase…

”No thank you, please leave my property. For your records could you record that im withdrawing you and your organisations implied right of access.

Can you confirm you understand and have documented this?”

You under no obligation to identify yourself. You can confirm you have this authority for the address, without providing any further information.

At that point if they refuse to leave - they are committing trespass. You can now let them know they should leave and are committing tresspass and will be making a complaint about them to their organisation, who will have a “removal of right of implied right of access” policy somewhere which they will now be in breach of. Trespass is a civil matter so not a police matter.

You can of course follow it up in writing afterward to confirm that the company have recorded this and of course make a complaint too if you feel your withdrawal wasn’t accepted.

Subsequent visits could start to work towards aggravated trespass which if happens repeatedly, following your removal - can become a criminal and thus police matter.

A sign outside your home stating “No cold callers” can be used too.

Might seem heavy handed, but we went through a spate of visitors who were just rude so we investigated and found this the best route.

One word of warning - if anyone turns up with a court order, even just a print out of it, no signatures, none of the above applies.

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 12/04/2023 19:36

*”No thank you, please leave my property. For your records could you record that im withdrawing you and your organisations implied right of access.

Can you confirm you understand and have documented this?*

Utter waste of time when you have no idea which organisation you are dealing with. Highly unlikely this was an actual BT employee, rather the fact he was so pushy indicates he's working in direct sales, likely self-employed.

Also, there are parts of the UK where there is no such thing as 'implied right of access' in any case.

RosemaryAndTime · 12/04/2023 19:40

Did he have a genuine BT ID?

I would assume he was a scammer or working for a dubious company!

I'm with your DH

mumda · 12/04/2023 19:45

Cold calling wankers. Have a no cold calling sign which routinely gets ignored. I take this as an invitation to be as rude as I feel.
Sometimes very rude other times not so.

They never have any information for you to read at your leisure and consider and therefore they are scum of the earth.

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 12/04/2023 19:45

He's not from BT. I used to work for BT and this is definitely not how they operate. He will doubtless blab on about BT but then say you can get a better deal through X which uses BT network, or something like that.

slowquickstep · 12/04/2023 20:05

You shouldn't have stood there and listened to him after you said no. So bloody British "i don't want too be rude"

Flip