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Post by kunuma on Mar 20, 2012 20:13:09 GMT 1
OK I have lived a sheltered life obviously, had never even heard of them until I moved here (apart from the JWs). Am now get seriously incensed by the amount of people knocking on my door and asking for money! Especially as they probably have more than me!
I'm wondering if they have hit lists of certain houses, as this one used to have an elderly lady living here (OK even more elderly than me!)
Do 'no cold callers' signs work? What else discourages them?
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Post by Claire on Mar 20, 2012 21:56:13 GMT 1
Are they people begging for money or people trying to sell stuff? Dont get many cold callers here (apart from phone ones). I would defo get a no cold callers sign and a barking dog is a great deterrant! I solve the problem by never answering the door unless I know who it is/I am expecting someone. However this is not due to cold callers but a horrific incident that happened years ago in my first house. Someone had knocked at the door of an elderly neighbour one evening and she had let them in and ended up being attacked and raped! Horrible enough but on that very night someone had knocked on my door at about the same time and I had for some reason ignored it. It was assumed that the person had knocked on a few doors trying to get an answer so I'm very glad that I did ignore it, altho I also wish the poor woman hadnt either. So you can understand how I never ever answer the door unless I am sure of who it is! I had a scare recently when my mum and dad had been visiting and just literally a minute after they had gone the doorbell rang. Thinking it was them forgetting something (which they usually do!) I opened it and it was this deaf (or purporting to be) guy begging for money. It was a bit scary as I was expecting my mum. Thats the first time in almost 20 years I have answered the door to someone I didnt expect! I think cold calling should be made illegal - including phone calls - surely your own house should be sacrosant and off limits to the worlds scroungers and money grubbers!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2012 8:25:54 GMT 1
I do the same as you Claire, I only answer the door to people I know but sometimes I get caught out like you did. I had RSPCA poeple wanting money the other day and they had the cheek to ask if they could have a pen, not borrow it! My OH gave one to them but I wouldn't have done! They should get themselves more organised. I know it's only a pen and it is a worthy charity but it just made me cross! We get loads of them round here trying to get you to change suppliers for gas etc. And some are quite rude and won't take no for an answer
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Post by jinglerebel on Mar 24, 2012 3:33:22 GMT 1
Yeah I'm another who doesn't usually answer the door unless I'm expecting someone. If it is someone I know they should know to phone first! Whenever I've decided to be nicer and answer the door it's always religion pushers, salespeople or charity collectors (paid ones, too). The last lot were pushing some Apocalypse thing, I said I'm not interested lol. If you ever give charity collectors money you can be sure your house will go on a list that they sell to other charities. Do you not have security screen doors over there? Most houses here have them, I always keep mine locked. But one time I was cleaning the floors and had the door open as I rinse the mop outside, I thought I heard the front gate, next thing there's an electricty salesperson (they are notorious here) almost inside the house! I just about had to push him out. It was v. unnerving. I used to keep the gate locked but then meter readers couldn't get in.
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Post by kunuma on Mar 24, 2012 22:22:20 GMT 1
I've always had a garden before and locked the gate, now the front is open plan (YUK). Because I'm not used to weirdos calling, I never thought of not answering the door - though my boy bless him gets very irate with people knocking on the door, so does announce his presence. I don't like him getting even more stressed than he already is though as the poor thing HATES living here, so must work out some way of stopping them - hmm, wonder if I could put an electric fence across! ;D ;D We do seem to be way behind in this country with security - I can never even convince my mother to lock her doors - and she would invite a baddie in for tea! You are so right about the charities selling off addresses, they certainly have her number!!
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