door to door sellers - ex offenders

[mrs2cats]

Lately we're getting quite a few young men knocking at the door selling stuff like dusters and oven gloves etc at quite high prices.

They claim to be ex offenders doing this to gain some work experience. Whilst I agree that everyone deserves a 2nd chance, I don't need what they sell and I can't afford to buy from every one of them when we get 2-3 visits a month.

Today I found myself apologising profusely to a young man 'cos I didn't want to see his wares. He got a little annoyed and said 'everyone deserves a 2nd chance' and I found myself having to explain that we're getting regular visits and I simply can't afford to buy each time, that I'm sorry, that I suppose he's hearing the same all the way down the street etc. Have to say I felt a little intimidated as, although polite, he was evidently annoyed and he was quite a big lad.

What do you do in these circumstances. Is there anywhere I can complain?

Do a search as there's threads on here about them. Apparently it's a scam.

Thanks LadySybil
I tried doing a search and couldn't find anything. Obviously the criteria I put in are rubbish.
I think it must be a scam. Whereas before we'd get one maybe every 6 months or so, now they're ridiculously regular and I'm suspicious. I was a bit wary when they weren't so often - now I'm wary and annoyed.

I'll see if I can find one for you.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/1364798-to-have-turned-this-doorstep-seller-away Here you go. The others must have been in 'chat' so they get deleted after a certain time. Scroll down to the middle, there's a post by a MNter who works for HMP and confirms it's a scam.

We used to get them all the time- they had different 'disabilities' everytime they came round. The worst one was the one who was deaf apparently and was doing this ridiculous voice. At first I felt sorry for him but then realised it was entirely put on. I used to see them being dropped off en masse from the back of a transit.

I 'knew' someone (someone on a work experience that I had to do) who used to do that, alberts, it made my blood boil.

Thanks for the link LadySybil.
I decided to send a message to local police and see what they say. I don't suppose they can do anything but makes me feel better.
Yes, alberts, I've seen them being dropped off en masse as well. Sometimes they say they've come from another town 42 miles away.