Nuisance callers

LameWolf

I have just about had enough of struggling to answer the door, with all the pain and difficulty entailed in getting there, just to find out that the caller is someone trying to get me to change power companies/flog me something I don't need/etc. etc.

I was thinking of trying to obtain some sort of camera jobby that lets me see (and speak to) whoever is at the door before I physically go to answer it, but I am unsure how to go about researching this.

I don't dare just ignore the door, as you can bet your boots the time I do it'll be something important, so I wondered if anyone here has any words of wisdom for me - is it possible to get the sort of thing I am envisioning? Has anyone used one? I'm not technically minded, so I'd appreciate any help I can get.

Over to you, folks.:o

Savvy_Sue

I know you can get stickers saying "No cold callers" and "We do not buy at the door" and even "No free newspapers." Do you have anything like that up?

But yes, you can get what you're after, probably cheap'n'cheerful if you can mount a simple webcam under cover on the outside, or with more difficulty if you need something weatherproof.

The key thing would be making sure that you are within sight of wherever the feed comes to. Not difficult if you're usually in one room, harder if you might be anywhere in the house.

Alternatively, what about an intercom / entryphone system, which lets you release the doorcatch and admit the caller once you've found out who it is? You can speak to them before letting them in and tell them to Go Away and not come back if it's a nuisance caller.

LameWolf

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I know you can get stickers saying "No cold callers" and "We do not buy at the door" and even "No free newspapers." Do you have anything like that up?

But yes, you can get what you're after, probably cheap'n'cheerful if you can mount a simple webcam under cover on the outside, or with more difficulty if you need something weatherproof.

The key thing would be making sure that you are within sight of wherever the feed comes to. Not difficult if you're usually in one room, harder if you might be anywhere in the house.

Alternatively, what about an intercom / entryphone system, which lets you release the doorcatch and admit the caller once you've found out who it is? You can speak to them before letting them in and tell them to Go Away and not come back if it's a nuisance caller.

Thanks for your reply. Yes, I do have all the appropriate notices up, no cold callers, we don't buy at the door, etc, and it still doesn't seem to make any difference.

I live in a very small bungalow, and am mostly either in the living room or the kitchen - in any case, I have to stop by the living room to get my keys to open the door. I keep it locked when I'm home alone.

The other side of the problem is that, despite a notice asking genuine callers to be patient while I get to the door, often I hobble there on my two sticks only to see the tail end of the caller disappearing down the drive; it's very frustrating to waste all that energy when I don't have much to start with!

I'll show my husband your reply, and see what he thinks we should do. It's when he's at work that the problems arise - if he's here, I leave it to him to answer the door!:o

Savvy_Sue

Just a thought, but is this something Social Services / OT would assess you for and advise on fitting if not actually doing the job for you? It seems to me that it falls into the same kind of thing as the flashing light doorbells mum has had so that she knows someone's at the door.

LameWolf

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Just a thought, but is this something Social Services / OT would assess you for and advise on fitting if not actually doing the job for you? It seems to me that it falls into the same kind of thing as the flashing light doorbells mum has had so that she knows someone's at the door.

I never thought of that.

I must admit, I've not gone via SS for anything before, as I have always felt that 1. I'd wait a month of Sundays and 2. the stress of having someone assess me would do my head in. Will mention this to Mr LW also, though. Thanks.

Savvy_Sue

LameWolf wrote: »

I never thought of that.

I must admit, I've not gone via SS for anything before, as I have always felt that 1. I'd wait a month of Sundays and 2. the stress of having someone assess me would do my head in. Will mention this to Mr LW also, though. Thanks.

I can only say that my parents' recent experience has not been like that. It was fairly timely - I imagine they have targets to meet! - and it was respectful of what they wanted / were prepared to accept.

LameWolf

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I can only say that my parents' recent experience has not been like that. It was fairly timely - I imagine they have targets to meet! - and it was respectful of what they wanted / were prepared to accept.

OK, I've now found the relevant page on the Milton Keynes website. (Never would have known where to start without your helpful input - thanks again!)
It mentions that you can be referred by your GP or refer yourself, so I must get my head around that. I have a GP appointment next Friday in any case, if I'd need to go that route.