MSE News: The rogue companies that ignore 'no cold callers' signs

Narc

Plushchris wrote: »

The Christian Aid woman that knocked on my door yesterday asking for the envelope looked quite offended when I told her it had been put in the bin "with all the other crap I get shoved through my door"

This is hilarious when it happens. Put unsolicited stuff though my door and then expect me to give it back when you ring my doorbell, riiiiight.

dseventy

You just need to be creative with these people, if you make it so that you are the type of person to be avoided, they will never bother you again. They all speak to each other so it soon gets round.

Anyone selling windows/home inprovements. - Tell them you would love new windows. You would love a conservatory. Guttering? Yes please. After their eyes light up and they start the sell, just say "The council will pay for it won't they - I am an council tenant".

Anyone selling financial products - "Yes I would love a credit card/loan - yes please. I was made bankrupt last year and no-one will lend to me!"

Electricity/Gas - "Its all included in the rent, I don't pay the bills and have no account"

Charity - "I already donate to your charity by direct debit, can I be left alone".

Thats how to get shot of them without being rude.

D70

Bonkers

My mother has dementia, whilst I was out she was visited by a BRC collector. I presume she invited him in and when I returned a direct debit mandate had been filled out for £10 a month. She had shown this collector her bank statement, it was out on the table, and he had filled in her bank account details!! Luckily she did have presence of mind to tell him I would need to see it. I am furious and will be taking this further. BTW I have a No Cold Callers sticker in the window. Whilst I am ranting, she did borrow somethings from BRC and donated a sum of money when I returned them, but now she gets letters, book marks, christmas cards etc with a contribution slip. Oh, another thing, a company who gave the impression they were from BRC phoned, luckily I answered, I was given a hard sell for a direct debit sign up. In the closing sentence she divulged she was working for a firm that was contracted by BRC and they would be paid, I think, £60,000! All the while she was talking she gave a very strong impression that she was from BRC, "we do this, we have done that etc". It makes my blood boil. BTW, does BRC sell their lists of clients, I wonder......

Tory_boy

Just to follow on from djh1697 I would like to point out politicians exempted political parties, election candidates and independent politicians (elected or candidates, at all levels of government from Parish meetings right through to Euro MP's), Council officials carrying out the annual canvass of electors and those carrying out the census from cold calling regulations, the Telephone Preference Service and the Ex-Directory telephone system.

This was done for the interests of democracy and as being registered to vote and completing the census are legal requirements. They are also not classified as selling or carrying on a trade, so are no covered by trading standards either. The only regulator is the electoral commission and that is only for the politicians.

The Advertising Standards Authority also have no powers regarding political parties and their communications. It is courteous for signs to be obeyed but that is as far as it goes. It is not as is claimed on these signs available on this site "criminal".

Finally ALL Political Parities (even the fringe parties) and ALL elected officials (regardless of party or affiliation) and ALL candidates (regardless of party or affiliation) at an election can get hold of the FULL electoral register for their area. In a format convenient form them (usually Paper of Electronic).

So if you opt out of the edited register political parties can still contact you via the Full Electoral Register. The only people not known to political parties are those who are listed as anonymous electors on the electoral roll.

Politicians wrote the laws and exempted themselves from the regulations they didn't like.

djh1697 wrote: »

Jehovahs Witnesses can be overcome by telling them that your partner used to be a JW but was kicked out for apostasy.

When I was involved in politics we were told to ignore such signs as it was our "democratic right" to get our message heard

tenner

Personally, I would be happy to see a political canvasser on my doorstep.

In over 40 years on this planet, at various addresses, I have never had any political candidate bother to show up, yet they expect us to vote for them.

CRISPIANNE3

Even though we have clearly displayed a notice we do not buy from the door the Bettabuy and Kleeneze people think it does not apply to them.

They just ignore the notice and then end up knocking at the door requesting their catalogue back.

Ok they are only trying to earn a crust of bread like the rest of us but they really need to use some common sense.

glosman555

In the last two weeks I have had 4 leaflets from the Labour party even though I have a large sign which says no junk mail. On the last occasion I handed the leaflet back to them saying I did not want their rubbish to which one of them said there was no need to be abusive and he had a democratic right to give out political literature.

James_Lahey

Living on a largish estate I've noticed a huge difference in the number of cold callers since putting up the sign by the doorbell, from at least 3 a week to less than one per month.

There's also a big "no junk mail" sticker on the letterbox which is less successful (probably because they don't have me telling them off when ignored )

Any business leaflets that ignore the sign provide great phone numbers to use while signing up for cash offers on sites like points2shop, swagbucks etc. I'm pleased to be able to fill their days with pointless cold calls.

My main peeve is the endless supply of "charity" clothes bags, most of which are from dodgy companies who give a (no doubt tiny)% to charity. Annually I must get enough to fill a bin liner - anyone have a good way of using these? At least non-glossy junk mail makes good pet bedding once shredded, these flimsy things seem utterly useless but I'd be happy to find a use rather than sending them to landfill!

Wail

Stuck back in the post with the address of the business circled and RTS written across it???

sunflower_2