AIBU to feel uneasy after a pushy doorstep call?

[poetryandwine]

Posting for traffic . Title from MN

I am WFH today and answered the door to a former prisoner. He understandably needs a fresh start but he wasn’t very coherent and when I declined he got pushy.

Can anyone help me with what this is about?
Thanks in advance

Not my experience. It's just useful when you have cold callers and I'd rather not answer the door to them. But obviously the situation you speak off is a bigger issue with the individual themselves rather than a door camera

They are likely to be part of a scam, they are getting an idea of

• If you keep your door locked.
• Who is around during the day.
• Do you have a noisy/scary dog.
• Do you keep cash in the house.
• Are there car keys in easy reach or bikes and tools in an open garage.
• Can you be persuaded easily.

& add 'sorry my dog desnt like strangers'

its irrelevant he's been dead many years.

There is no legit program where ex offenders go door to door selling shit from a big bag.

It's a racket.

Ask yourself why, in the age of the Internet, there's no (verifiable, probation service approved) website telling the story of their rehabilitation, and why the probation service are adamant that neither they nor any legitimate rehabilitation programs run these schemes.

OP you haven’t provided nearly enough context here!
How do you know he was a former prisoner?
What did he want?

He only said he was a former prisoner, and he was not very clear about anything else. He was carrying a case that could have held supplies for sale.

Perhaps he was shocked that I answered the door.

Are you new to mumsnet? Don't you know you should NEVER answer the door???

Very good!

I work with offenders, no way would we send them selling stuff door to door. Let your local community police officers know. They often put alerts on social media about scammers in the area.

We were warned by the local police that they are an organised gang selling substandard products and weren’t reformed offenders. They get dropped off in an area and have to sell their stuff which is mainly pound shop products at inflated prices.

If‘a all in how they do it.

I totally lost my shit today at sometime knocking at my door.

I genuinely thought there must be an emergency / fire as the crazy loud knocking was insane and insistent and I thought there was something serious needing my attention

I opened the door to find a young man wanting to tell me about the local estate agent - was not impressed.

he got it full barrels - why was he knocking on my door as if there was a fire??? …. Pointed out that my kid was recovering from an operation (true) and we didn’t need disturbing - told him his conduct was ‘rude’

I think mine was a bit too - but I was mighty pissed off at him knocking at my door like someone was dying - just to bore me senseless with his spiel about Estate agency stuff - sheeessshhh - totally uncalled for when I’m nursing a child through hell after surgery.

a gentle knock on my door - I could have taken but knocking down my door as if a serial killer on their heels just bloody unnecessary.

Our dog, (a big dopey golden retriever) has a very "big dog" bark, so when I answer to someone i don't know, i just crack the door a little bit so they can't see him, and make a big thing of keeping this unseen large dog back.
Thats usually enough to detract anyone from lingering 🤞

If they are going door to door selling they should have a Pedlars Certificate/Licence which you can ask to see … if not they commit an offence that the police can summons them for. Most will not have the licence as won’t apply or possibly turned down due to previous convictions. Always best to let Police know so they can be checked out.

I have a very stern notice on my door which leaves it in no doubt that I do not receive unsolicet callers, do religious or political chat, buy or give to collections. There are also obvious CCTV cameras and a warning notice. The idea is to deter unwanted callers. A few days ago a group of Jehova,s Witnesses walked past. One of them pointed to my house and said "Not there" so they took the hint. I doubt if they did much business as most of my neighbours are Muslim or Hindu.