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Original poster

To worry I was rude to cold callers

48 replies

daaaaaa · 22/11/2023 19:32

They knocked on the door and it was dark. They claimed to be from a well known charity. Think it was legit as they were in uniform. I said, sorry not interested in a bit of a blunt way. He replied, what, not interested in helping charityname?

So I said, we already donate to the charity shop in town. And pretty much closed the door in his face. It was rude of me but I was having a bad day, not that it makes it any better, guess he was only doing a job. Now I am worried and think maybe they remember the addresses of people who were rude to them!

OP posts:
SunCreamQueenie · 22/11/2023 21:02

They called unannounced in the dark, I wouldn't have even opened the door! Saying that, I shut the door in a cold caller's face once and he came back 10 minutes later with his mate!! They are shameless, don't give them another thought!

girlfriend44 · 22/11/2023 21:05

Why do people open the door, it's not safe you don't know whose on the other side.

Growing up parents never opened the door to random callers. Always used to call out who is it?
Then they would have to say who they were through the door and then you just said no thanks.

You don't need to open your door just because someone knocks.

You don't know who it is?

WetBandits · 22/11/2023 21:07

Nope! I regularly support charities, but I prefer to choose them myself, and certainly not when I am pressured to do so on my own doorstep. I just say ‘no thanks’ and close the door.

The Jehovahs Witnesses who come knocking (a rare occurrence now that I’ve moved, thankfully - there was a Kingdom Hall on the next street where I used to live!) get the same stock phrase every time: “sorry, can’t chat, I’m late for my blood donation appointment” Grin

WetBandits · 22/11/2023 21:09

girlfriend44 · 22/11/2023 21:05

Why do people open the door, it's not safe you don't know whose on the other side.

Growing up parents never opened the door to random callers. Always used to call out who is it?
Then they would have to say who they were through the door and then you just said no thanks.

You don't need to open your door just because someone knocks.

You don't know who it is?

You don't know who it is?

That mystery is usually solved by opening the door…

Elliemayclampett · 22/11/2023 21:18

I always say that I choose one charity per year to support. This year I'm already supporting X but leave me a leaflet and ill consider you for next year.

Wellhellooooodear · 22/11/2023 21:22

I find it utterly intrusive when charities knock on my door. Even if I was interested in donating to a particular charity, this would not be how I'd sign up. A no thank you and a closed door is perfectly reasonable.

Wellhellooooodear · 22/11/2023 21:24

girlfriend44 · 22/11/2023 21:05

Why do people open the door, it's not safe you don't know whose on the other side.

Growing up parents never opened the door to random callers. Always used to call out who is it?
Then they would have to say who they were through the door and then you just said no thanks.

You don't need to open your door just because someone knocks.

You don't know who it is?

😂😂

itsmyp4rty · 22/11/2023 21:29

I would never donate to anyone who cold calls or tries to emotionally black mail you into donating - so they'd be out on both counts. I hate fucking chuggers, they should be completely banned.

AnneElliott · 22/11/2023 21:33

No you did the right thing op. Charities should be allowed to go door to door. I'm pretty firm and blunt if they come to my door. It generally works as they rarely come back.

AnneElliott · 22/11/2023 21:35

Libertass · 22/11/2023 20:32

Chuggers are trained to see politeness & good manners as weakness, so never apologise to them, thank them or accept anything they try to give you. Just say ‘no, I’m not interested” in a grumpy tone & shut the door in their face.

Yes I agree. Am sure their training does say that as anything less than rudeness they carry on going!

YireosDodeAver · 22/11/2023 21:41

You did nothing wrong.
The door to door collectors are not employees of the charity or volunteers. They are employed by an agency who trains them in high-pressure sales tactics and guilt-tripping, and the agency charges the charity a huge commission for every donor successfully obtained. If you ever are motivated to give to a charity who collects door to door you should still refuse to give at the door, then go to the website and give there, then the charity gets everything you give.

Honestly don't worry about being a bit short with them. They are hardened to hearing far, far worse and they don't last for more than a day in the job if they can't just shrug it off. Your guilt is just part of the near-success of their pressure methods.

BabyShaark · 22/11/2023 22:19

Don’t feel bad, OP, you weren’t rude.

We don’t get them very often here, but when one knocks on the door, I usually shut it without saying a word.

Catsmere · 22/11/2023 22:25

You were more polite than that rude, pushy bastard deserved.

mogsrus · 22/11/2023 22:26

Had a cold call the other night at 9 15 pm. Hello, can I ask you a few questions about whatever, so I said please can I ask a question first? yes, came the reply. So I asked what time it was where he was ringing from, knowing full well that the call came from Scotland, it’s 9 15 pm he said Ahh I said, exactly the same here, good night. Felt good .

Catsmere · 22/11/2023 22:28

WetBandits · 22/11/2023 21:07

Nope! I regularly support charities, but I prefer to choose them myself, and certainly not when I am pressured to do so on my own doorstep. I just say ‘no thanks’ and close the door.

The Jehovahs Witnesses who come knocking (a rare occurrence now that I’ve moved, thankfully - there was a Kingdom Hall on the next street where I used to live!) get the same stock phrase every time: “sorry, can’t chat, I’m late for my blood donation appointment” Grin

😆😆😆

Reminds me of the time I encountered a couple of Mormons as I was passing a tram stop. I thought no, they're just waiting for the tram, but no, they started the spiel anyway! I said "If I want to read American fantasy I'll stick to Stephen King" and kept walking.

SapphireBracelet · 22/11/2023 22:39

I used to be bothered by cold callers and then I got one of those "Police" stickers off eBay saying no cold callers, no canvassers, no religious callers, no junk mail. The junk mail hasn't stopped (don't think they bother to read it) but it has stopped the chuggers, canvasser, religious callers and energy companies knocking on my door.

mogsrus · 22/11/2023 22:48

Trouble with junk mail it has to be delivered, even if it says,, to the occupier.

DaughterNo2 · 22/11/2023 22:53

I’ve always said ‘thanks but but no thanks’ and closed the door. There has been the odd one that has continued bellowing stating I have no idea what they wanted to say🧐😂

Aquamarine1029 · 22/11/2023 22:56

Fuck those people.

The very first response by @FMLife was exactly right. I wouldn't have opened the door to them at all.

Merryoldgoat · 22/11/2023 22:57

I don’t entertain any unsolicited calls either in person or on the phone.

I’m utterly sick of it at work. I give one go at getting rid politely and if they don’t fuck off then I’m less so.

PriOn1 · 22/11/2023 23:03

My son used to do this as a job. The whole thing was exploitative, both to employees and those whose doors they knock on. These companies employ those who are struggling and then treat them horribly.

But I can reassure you that they will not be taking note of anyone who was rude to them. You will have been far from the worst they’ve experienced today and they are under huge pressure to get sign ups so finding those is their priority. Once your door is closed, they won’t give it another thought.

Soapyspuds · 22/11/2023 23:03

You're not in the wrong op. I once explained to a chugger I gave £1000 at once to charity (true, from savings and it was a lot of money to me) and couldn't physically give any more and they STILL wouldn't leave me alone

Can you not work out why?

The correct answer is either no or no thanks then close the door.

LeggyLegsEleven · 22/11/2023 23:09

We always get a flurry of them at the start of the academic year when nearby uni students sign up to work for these companies.
I shut them down fairly fast with ‘I don’t sign up to anything on the doorstep in any circumstances’ as that’s the only way they get commission they lose interest. If you sign up on a charity website they get nothing.
I notice now as I sit on a computer in a front bedroom that no one answers the door to them anymore. You see someone young in a bright T-shirt and just don’t answer. I imagine they all
quit fairly quickly.

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