Just Been Called a Fucking Bitch by a Nottingham Knocker

[LuluBlakey1]

So, our doorbell rang. I answered it. He looked like a Nottingham Knocker. The conversation went like this.
Him (Nicely) 'Hello. Sorry to bother you. Can I explain who I am?'
Me (Nicely) 'Hello. Well you can but if you are selling anything, I don't want to buy anything so I don't want to waste your time.'
Him (Frowning) 'Can I show you what I am selling?'
Me (Still nicely) 'It really won't change my mind. I don't want to buy anything.'
Him (Annoyed) 'Not even the cheapest thing'
Me (Politely) 'No, sorry'.
Him (Angry) 'So you don't want to help me?'
Me (Politely) 'I just don't buy anything at the door, ever.'
Him (Angry) 'Nobody does in this street. Nobody even comes to the door.'
Me (Politely) 'Sorry we get lots of people knocking to sell stuff.'
Him (Raging and stomping off) 'Piss off you stupid fucking bitch.'
Me (Politely) 'Glad I didn't buy anything now. You are very rude.'
Him (Still raging) 'Just fuck off. You're all fucking rude. Just fucking buy something and we'll fuck off. There's no need to be so fucking tight. Bitch.'

AIBU to have wanted to pick the spade up that was in the garden and brain him with it?

I didn't, of course, but I wanted to. I can't even feel any sympathy/empathy for him - the veneer of 'nice' was so thin and the 'thug' so quickly emerged. I wish I just hadn't answered the door. I bet he wouldn't have spoken to DH like that- 6ft, nearly 15 st and looks quite like a thug himself.I'm so angry.

Not sure about where you are OP, in our area, the Police ask that we inform them and they come out to monitor and move them on.

They're a specific scam, to PP who haven't heard of them. They're not just selling door to door, they're casing for burglaries.

They have a made up card thing that they use to look official, they give the sob story about being on a rehabilitation scheme, and try to convince you to pay a bank note's worth for some crap cleaning stuff.

If they do get someone to give them money, they use the condition of the note / how long it took to get it / how much money was in your wallet to judge whether your house is worth breaking into to find more money.
https://www.thamehub.co.uk/thames-valley-police-issue-nottingham-knocker-advice/

I'm bothered that your husband gave you such bad advice, OP. The man verbally abused you and your husband thinks you should have let him rip you off as well.

I don't usually answer the door but our next door neighbour (whose wife has just died) knocks in a very particular way - he rings the bell and then knocks with his knuckles on the wood. This person did that and I thought it must be him.

They come round here in teams of two or three every other month or so. Very intimidating.

We get these from time to time, although I've noticed its happening far less since all my neighbours in our tiny cul de sac have got fucking huge dogs & we have a door cam.

I always say politely that I'm not interested in buying and they are always fucking aggressive in response. I can hear them calling me profanities through a closed door.

I think he meant I should have just bought something at the start rather than after he was horrible. No offer to go after him with the garden spade though. I always say if there was a zombie apocalypse I'd have to deal with them.

I will report it now. Thanks.

I had one last year who was very abusive when I said that I wasn't interested.
I posted his photo on our local rural watch WhatsApp group,warning others about him,and the police contacted me saying that if I wanted to they'd pick him up and charge him with breach of the peace.
I decided against it,because someone who has made such bad life choices that this is their only option,doesn't need me making it worse.
I did let the dog,who hates strangers and is very defensive,out though,as soon as the bloke was on the other side of the gate. Ddog went ballistic, hopefully putting the guy off from coming again. Plus we got him on the yard CCTV and I took a photo of him,which he REALLY didn't like.

Well that guidance about the condition and smell of bank notes is obsolete!

Off on a tangent here but do mumsnetters know if other countries have these or similar? I've never heard of it but assume they must do. Just curious.

I wont quote your conversation but in a strange way that's good isn't it? That he was rude and aggressive - it confirms that these visitors are scammers/wrong-uns. I like you always state that I don't buy from the door. The more savvy ones say thank you and move away; the less savvy start the rudeness. They are being dropped off often in better areas - surely the handlers/procurers/ etc could at least work that out - that rudeness wont go down well at all. But sorry for your encounter.

We do not, but it's common in the US for anyone selling items door to door to be required to register with the local police first or obtain a license from the municipality. That seems to discourage it pretty effectively.

https://dos.ny.gov/news/consumer-alert-new-york-department-states-division-consumer-protection-provides-tips-avoid

Tips to Avoid Door-to-Door Scams:

• Research the business: Most jurisdictions require that door-to-door solicitors obtain a license from the Municipal Clerk, Police Department or local consumer protection agency and carry a government-issued identification card. Some local laws regulate the hours when door-to-door solicitation can be conducted. Look for your local law. Just click on New York State and select your local government from the list provided to access the search page. (Hint: a good search term is "solicit.")

Why was it a stupid thing to help someone? It doesn't sound like the person you gave it to was horrible just someone else.

Call the police for the abusive and threatening behaviour

I once got spat at but just closed the door in time so the spit just hit the door. Another time got called 'fucking sheep shagger' as had a Welsh flag sticker on the car in the drive! Definitely called Nottingham Knockers round here (South East..)

I have reported it online on 101. Pointless probably.

Our local FB page is very hot on these guys - as soon as they appear a post usually goes up saying “Nottingham Knockers in the village, just seen on X street”.

I fell for it once years ago, but I’ve toughened up since!

I don't, but I was always amused by signs on doorways saying 'No Solicitors'.

Ours too. They normally say they are from Kent. What are they known as in Notts?

He's a Trollope.

Just buy yourself a door sticker with similar words to no selling, no cold calling, etc.

It keeps most of of them away.

Years ago when DC were small I noticed these individuals would always turn up just as dusk was approaching. I had one approach me on the drive as I was dealing with rubbish - I jumped a mile. I like a pp bought something the 1st time they came, but no more.

Oh god I had exactly this yesterday. I was on my own - DP is away with work - and was in the middle of cleaning out the cat’s litter tray so totally caught on the hop. Thankfully he was pleasant enough when I realised what was going on and said we weren’t in the market for buying anything but it did make me remember to chain the door last night.

Yes, I assumed that your husband meant you should have bought an overpriced cleaning cloth from the man before he got abusive, and that is very bad advice.
"You should have..." always strikes me as a form of blaming or berating. And you were definitely right not to buy anything.