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MSE News: Consumers warned over doorstep traders this summer

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This is the discussion thread for the following MSE News Story:
"Consumers should beware of an increase in rogue doorstep traders this summer, warns the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) ..."
"Consumers should beware of an increase in rogue doorstep traders this summer, warns the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) ..."
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We have a hedge at the side of the house and OH cuts it in spring and autumn, but every year during the summer I get numpties in vans asking if I need it doing. Cheeky sod yesterday rolled his eyeswhen I said OH does everything DIY. He then asked about a loose flag at the bottom of the drive. Look I said OH does it or we get BIL who is a builder, he tutted and said "you need a flagger not a builder flower".
At this point I told him to *ahem* jog on or words to that effect.
Ali x
Acknowledge the bell you cant unring"
It would be great if everyone who has an elderly/vulnerable family member could mention this to them too please
This all smacks of typical SOCIAL ENGINEERING on behalf of the government and the MSM (and repeaters*) to try and program us in to thinking that self employed trades are a bad thing.
Of course there are unscrupulous individuals out there, lots being our "guests" from the EU. But anybody stupid enough to agree to something big on the spot probably deserves to be scammed as punishment for their epic stupidity. Once bitten twice shy.
* Repeater = any news provider who does copy-paste of government policy without critique and calls it news. A bit like this article.
I know it can be pretty intrusive even if a tradesman is on the level.
I have to admit, this is how I got my own window cleaning business started 20 years ago. Although it might be intrusive, I would always be brief and to the point. I always accept "no thanks" or "we'vew already got one" with good grace and immediately withdraw.
I've done face to face canvassing. I've done leaflets only.
Face to face, one customer per 25 houses was not unusual - sometimes much better. With leaflets, you're lucky to get 1 in 100. People tend to procrastinate with leaflets or just forget about them even if they intend to respond. I think my record was getting a job from a leaflet that I had dropped off about 3 years before. The householder put it aside in case her then window cleaner let her down - which he eventually did.
There are definitely different levels of doorstep canvassing. You might get the energy sellers trying to bamboozle you with numbers or trying to make it appear (without actually saying so) that they are your current supplier - even after having been told no.
You might get the odd job men/tarmaccers who who either overprice work by many times or give a low quotation then try to hassle more out of you after the job is done.
Then you get someone like me who is totally honest and gracefully withdraws without trying to persuade someone to change their mind.
The problem is that it's easy to lump everyone together.
If I want more work, sorry, but I will door knock for it unless it's a "no cold calling" area or until door knocking becomes illegal.
If I ever pick up a job worth more than £35 in this manner, I will follow the law and give the prospective customer a sheet explaining that jobs over £35 must carry a 14 day cooling off period. A lot of people aren't aware of this law change that was introduced a couple of years back.
I agree with most of your post but disagree with you saying that some people deserve to be scammed. Just because someone may be suffering from temporary (or even permanent) stupidity, it does not make it open season to cheat them. IMO of course.
As if its that easy to tell the genuine from the scam artists, scam artists sound genuine enough till get their dosh. Hence better to avoid totally:D
That's the problem really. I know that I'm honest as does anyone who knows me. A stranger on the doorstep doesn't though.
It's a bit hard to argue that people without common sense don't deserve what comes to them. Reference playing with plug sockets / walking across a road without stopping and looking / jumping off a pier if you can't swim / etc etc the list goes on.
But why should honest tradesmen and consumers who require them be punished because there's a few bad eggs and a load of stupid people?
If a council can find the resources to fine a mother £75 because her daughter dropped a bit of sausage roll, they can sure find the resources to identify and fine unscrupulous traders without harming the honest ones. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-561762/I-dropped-morsel-girls-sausage-roll-litter-police-fined-75.html
How have you managed to turn a thread about unscrupulous doorstep selling practices into a thinly veiled dig at immigration??
And your comments about 'totalitarian', 'social engineering' and 'program... into thinking' are nothing short of paranoia.
Furthermore, you view anyone who is 'stupid' (try elderly or vulnerable or intimidated) enough to 'agree to something.. on the spot' as deserving of being ripped off and having 'epic stupidity'.
All in all, yours is a very unpleasant post.