To not answer the door to this man?

[ArghMyEars]

Earlier there was a knock at the door and I made the mistake of answering. It was a guy with flyers saying they were doing work a few doors down and had we thought about getting a certain job done on our house. We have thought about it so I was genuinely interested in how much it may cost. He asked would I like a price, and I naively thought he’d give me a quote there and then so when I agreed he said he’d be back at 5pm to measure and provide a price. I don’t want this, but was stupidly too polite and just said ok to get rid of him- I had half an ear on my toddlers bedroom because they were napping. I don’t want him to come back, I know he’ll be pressurey with following up and 5pm is right on top of my toddlers dinner time.
AIBU to just shut all curtains and not answer when he returns? 🙈

My guess, tree surgeon or gutter cleaning.
We had the former “just doing a job up the road” and would I like a quote for the tree out front.

Not right now I said but I’ll take that flyer off you.
It was his last one apparently.
I took a photo and said I’d think about it , shut the door.

He'll likely be a "pikey", for want of a better word. A proper contractor wouldn't be touting for business in this way. Either don't answer the door when he comes back, or if you feel obliged to open the door, say you sw your other half and they don't want you getting quotes at this stage as you are not in a position to proceed with any work until next year. I mistakenly let someone like this one cut some of our trees back when they knocked saying they were working locally so could price competitively as in the area, they were supposed to take all the rubbish, and as their van was full left loads behind, but asked for payment for tip fees. I paid them on the basis they left their tools behind, needless to say they never came back and I ended up keeping probably some dodgy tree cutting tools. I also found out the next time I had the trees cut ( by a proper tree surgeon) that they had put a lot of the cuttings back into the top of the trees.😂

Oh FFS, grow a pair and don’t waste the man’s time! Phone and cancel if you have a number, or just say you’ve changed your mind when he arrives. Simples..

Yes I would call. I know it's annoying, but both my mum and my dad had those kinds of job at one point (no, they didn't want to do that and yes they did look for other jobs) and I would hate to think of them trudging round somewhere when all it would take is a quick sorry I can't make it call.
Lots of our kids will no doubt get these kinds of "jobs" (as in they often get very little pay, if they're workmen or women for the kinds of places my parents worked) and I wouldn't like this for my kids.

I wouldn’t say you were too polite, he offered and you said yes, ignoring him would be rude, is there not a number on the leaflet to phone?

Can you not remember the company name or anything?

If you can't - ask the neighbour getting the work done - and give the guy a ring to tell him you've changed your mind.

YABU to let him waste a journey back.

Just to make you aware that a knock on the door and if you answer, a claim to be a tradesman is a common tactic for burglars checking to see if someone is in. If you answer, there will usually be some issue with what they are offering (run out of cards, offering a job you obviously don't need (painting where the house is freshly painted), need to come back later).

Obviously he could be genuine but he may not be and may not come back. If he had flyers and gave you one, its more likely its genuine but it could just be grabbed from a stack in a shop for an unrelated business and being used as a prob.

Is anyone else amazed at people who are adult enough to have kids and can't deal with cold callers?

I have this sign up meaning no one knocks. It is bliss.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/173093593735

For now, put a note on your door saying you have changed your mind about the quote, then you have told them you don't want the work and you don't have to answer your door.

I have got that sign too. does no good at all.

@godmum56 I just point to the sign when they start their speil, and I point to my door camera then shut the door

Did you call to cancel?

If you don’t answer the door, he’ll knock again tomorrow, so you will waste more of his time and your time, don’t dangle him along any further. Be direct.

THIS. And I can guarantee they were NOT 'doing a job down the road'.

This is where a ring doorbell comes in very handy. I had someone obviously a charity worker come and ring the bell. I wasn't expecting a delivery, so I looked at my phone and decided there and then to leave it. He went away, and then had the cheeky buggery to come back at 7pm to check again. I didn't answer the door.

You don't know who cold callers are. If you get work done by them and have a problem, will you be able to trace them? Review them on a website? Give their details to police or Trading Standards?
If you want work done, good ways to get quotes are to look on Google for established firms with a decent number of reviews, and to ask on local Facebook groups - and check for a business page or website where you can check reviews - again, look for a decent number so it's not just their family and friends doing reviews for them.
Doesn't need to take long, and reduces the risk.

If you do phone him, make sure that you withhold your number

Good trades people don’t tend to cold call, I’ve had the ‘we’re going work down the road’ or ‘we’ve got some leftover shingle etc a work round the corner’….and it’s rarely true! I always politely thank them and say no thank you…in your case, I’d call their number and say your husband (doesn’t matter if you have one or not, it’s just for security purposes really!) said the work will have to wait and that he’d sort it out himself and just leave it at that..I’m a recent widow but I always make out to trades people that I still have a husband for security purposes, it’s none of their business anyway but I don’t like them knowing I’m on my own..

seriously? What an awful term and strange assumption. Of course contractors do this! I’ve had this and checked their work at my neighbours before agreeing. I’ve also had it in reverse where a neighbour also had visible damp and my builder knocked.

Op, you made a mistake by agreeing if you didn’t want a quote. Be polite. Call and cancel or cancel when they knock.

My vote: close curtains, hide, don't answer the door 😂

Same. Always men and they always argue or shout at me when I point it out.

Stick a note on the door - "Sorry, I have changed my mind about getting a quote, don't want to waste your time".

Next time you are put on the spot like this, just say you rent the property - it always works.

I agree that saying 'husband says no' is probably more likely to get them to back off than 'I've changed my mind'.
Also, if you call, you won't get the potential door stepping 'I'm here now so I may as well come in/do the measurements'. I wonder if having a grizzling toddler on your hip if he does return would help shorten the call...

Never ever do business if any kind with cold callers!
If he comes back, which he might well not do, tell him your husband won't let you have the work done 🥴

In the past, I got stuck at the door many times because I was trying to be polite. I now tell people I don't buy anything at the door.

There are just too many scammers out there now. I'm very wary of anyone pressure selling goods or services.