MSE News: Consumers warned over doorstep traders this summer

no_choice_now

fluffnutter wrote: »

All in all, yours is a very unpleasant post.

I'm sorry that if I point out obvious truths that you're left feeling that way.

I think you will find it's not a thinly veiled dig at immigration (being an immigrant, am I allowed to do that anyway?) but a no veiled dig at government totalitarianism. I should have thought that was pretty obvious.

If you think that genuine examples of totalitarianism and social engineering are paranoia, I would like to remind you that we're still looking for the "45 minute weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq.

I suppose you're still clinging to the belief the government was telling the truth about that and expect to find them any day now?

The_Thrilla

You know, some of these hawkers really do provide a good service. Think of that nice man with the Irish accent, who used to come around to the door offering to sell us a nice, new 3-piece suite. Not only that, but he offered to take away our old one for nothing. He was very charming, even though we were happy with the Chesterfield we already had.

We haven't heard from this gentleman - and he certainly did behave like a gentleman - for a number of years now. Why, I don't rightly know. But I think it may have something to do with this:

I was watching a local news story on the television. The Trading Standards people had confiscated a load of 3-piece suites from a group of Travellers. None of these suites had cigarette labels, and they were being tested by Trading Standards. The programme also told us what they did with the old 3-piece suites: they drove them out to the countryside, and dumped them by the side of the road. It was costing the County Council half a million pounds a year to clear them up.

I think it just shows the state the country is in. It costs the County Council half a million devaluados to perform a task that the Travellers can do for nothing.

Paulgonnabedebtfree

no_choice_now wrote: »

I'm sorry that if I point out obvious truths that you're left feeling that way.

I think you will find it's not a thinly veiled dig at immigration (being an immigrant, am I allowed to do that anyway?) but a no veiled dig at government totalitarianism. I should have thought that was pretty obvious.

If you think that genuine examples of totalitarianism and social engineering are paranoia, I would like to remind you that we're still looking for the "45 minute weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq.

I suppose you're still clinging to the belief the government was telling the truth about that and expect to find them any day now?

First one to mention the Nazis loses.
Damn. I just lost.

mo786uk

I have had some work experience of working with victims of doorstep crime. At the extreme end you just have peopel who are elderly and mentally not all there - they can be taken for tens of thousands without any work even being done or the work being very poor.

On a more subtle scale these con men are very good. They are obviously very good at gettign work but they often do a poor job or make more work for themselves.

Its easy to say you don't pay til the job is done but its another thign to resists 3 or 4 workmen demanding money and if you dont pay they wil lthreaten to do some damage to your home etc

no_choice_now

mo786uk wrote: »

Its easy to say you don't pay til the job is done but its another thign to resists 3 or 4 workmen demanding money and if you dont pay they wil lthreaten to do some damage to your home etc

If you're being threatened you close the door and dial 999.

This is precisely the type of social engineering I'm talking about. Yes this happens once in a while, but to an extremely small number of people. I'm sure you have more chance of being struck by lightning that being violently threatened by a tradesman.

Also a point not being made, what of the elderly people who have contracted with the >99% of good, honest tradesmen who will give them somebody to talk to and have some company and a cup of tea with whilst their lawn is being mowed or their drains are being declogged? A lot of older people lead very lonely lives and are happy for the human contact; be it at the post office counter to a man with his hand in their gutter.

mo786uk

Its not 'once in a while'. I worked for a council and it was a weekly occurence - and that is only the exmaples you hear about - there are probably hundreds per week you don't - its more than widescale enough to be a significant problem nationally. As we have an ageing problem it will only get worse in the future as elderly people are far more vulnerable for this type of thing.

For many people its not a case of physical violence but being pressured into paying or feeling emotionally liable to pay for work after it has been done - even if it was to a poor standard.

If you take an example, if someone has had their driveway done to a poor standard then they are likely to pay if the tradesman threatens to rip it all up and leave the consumer without a drive or their drive in a mess. Its too late by then. Caslling the Police wont help as it will be a civil matter - and even if any threats are amde they are difficult to prove.

The very criminal tradesmen will cause damage to a customers house in order to get more work/money and it is very hard for a customer to prove it.

Like with much legislation - do you use blanket legislation to sort out the bad guys which will affect the good guys? Whilst the answer might be no, I think you underestimate the problem.

Consumerist

Paulgonnabedebtfree wrote: »

First one to mention the Nazis loses. . .

Does the BNP count? Being obnoxious is their style.

rickbonar

Door to door is ok if no signs to the contrary.... however I believe NO hawkers or door to door sales signs should be legally binding.

texranger

well the way i look at it.

If i want my gutters or roof mended I WILL CALL A ROOFER
If i want my garden sorted I WILL CALL A GARDENER
If i want my windows cleaned I WILL CALL A WINDOW CLEANER
If i want my windows changed I WILL CALL A DOUBLE GLAZING FIRM
If i want to change gas/electic supplier I WILL CALL AN ENEGY SUPPLIER

so If i need anything doing guess what

I WILL CALL THE TRADESMAN

System

i once had an irish guy knock on my door asking if i want my drive repaired .the "repair" was because a couple of really small pebbles have lifted out of the concrete leaving tiny holes. he reckoned the tarmac on the back of his truck would do the trick nicely !!! i can just see it now grey concrete drive with coin size bits of tarmac here and there .
i have signs up saying no junk mail /charlty bags but they do no good .