Cold Calling

ColinFishwick

Maybe

They have to have one important attribute, that is being unable to listen to people Or unable to understand "No not today"

missile wrote: »

Do door step sellers serve their apprenticeship with the Mormons?

hippygran

Advise you older/vulnerable people to do what my 76 year old mother-in-law does! She will not answer the door to anyone she doesn't recognise!
The cold calling sign does not stop some, so she blithely carries on going about her daily task and completely ignores the knocking/frantic attempts to get her attention.
Shes really expert at it now, they could be there HOURS, and they get no response!
On a recent visit the bloke from Eon, asked me if she was deaf! He was gobsmacked when she answered to door to me straight away!
I answered she is neither deaf, nor daft, but simply can't be bothered to waste her time on people who are either too ignorant to take note of the sign, or too unintelligent to read it!
Telephone calls are another matter thought, she simply growls every time she gets one, then hangs up!
I've tried to get her to register with TPS, but she won't, and I believe it wouldn't work for all the 'foreign' calls she is getting lately.
I think she quite looks forward to them, they must break the day up or something!
Family and friends tend to ring her on one of her (two) mobiles (you never know - one might break!), and as soon as her land line rings, she yells 'cold call', she's out of that chair like a rat out of a trap, (and she does struggle sometimes), so she can growl and hang up!
So frequent that now the two year old grand-daughter now imitates the growl, every time she hears a phone ringing!
YEP - at home. in shops, in banks, restaurants - you name it!
If father-in-law is present though, he completely ruins her fun by answering the door, (sends 'em packing though), or even worse getting the phone first! Then HE gets the pleasure of telling them to 'sod off'!

dzug1

ColinFishwick wrote: »

Or unable to understand "No not today"

The trouble is that phrase has two meanings. To the householder it's a polite way of saying '**** off and don't come back'

To an optimistic and pushy salesman it's an invitation to negotiate on timing.;)

lilac_lady

I have a Neighbourhood Watch door sticker saying "No cold callers" but it doesn't work. Must be broken!

Errata

lilac_lady wrote: »

I have a Neighbourhood Watch door sticker saying "No cold callers" but it doesn't work. Must be broken!

They're not worth the paper they're printed on, and if the property is surrounded by retirement properties or those designed for older people are a clear signal the occupants may be vulnerable to doorstep sellers.

newmee

alanq wrote: »

How would a phone cold caller be expected to know if the person being called is over 80?

sorry for not checking back for this question. I will ask my mum

newmee

I cannot find anything to support my previous statement so it must just have been that particular double glazing company's policy. They did eventually stick to it too. Sorry for any confusion. There is seemingly still lots of debate on this subject though, with 'powers that be' and I think that it should be a banned practice full stop. I'd be interested to know if anyone on here has ever bought from someone calling unsolicited (on phone or in person) I haven't and am instantly put off by the method, even if it were of interest to me. It's like going into a shop an a pushy assistant comes up and tries to start selling to you or asking questions....I'm outta there like a shot.

Magnolia

andyrules wrote: »

I've just discovered she has switched energy supplier as a result of a sales rep calling. Would have been better to do a comparison - which I've suggested. However, she has always been adamant about staying with the 'Electricity Board', so she is obviously more easily persuaded now.

If the transfer is not in her favour then look into 'Erroneous Transfer' based on her age and frailty and get her on a better tariff from the leccy board.

Ken68

I talk to cold callers from an slightly open window, where outside is a joke pile of dog mess.
Then pretend deafness.

lilac_lady

Errata wrote: »

They're not worth the paper they're printed on, and if the property is surrounded by retirement properties or those designed for older people are a clear signal the occupants may be vulnerable to doorstep sellers.

I live in a mixed age estate. I'm fed up with cold callers. If I see them going around the estate I ignore them when they reach my door.