Acceptable hours - charity collectors?

thegirlintheattic

I may just be gumpy today but do you think it is acceptable for a charity collector to knock at 8pm at night?

Stupidly I opened the door (have elderly neighbors) to get insulted ("I s your mum and dad home?!") followed by a dirty look when I said I couldn't spare any money. Two minutes later another one knocked and this time asked for the boss of the house.

Now I have no problem with charity, in fact the charity they are prompting is very close to my heart but I find knocking so late with so little tact is not on.

moneypuddle

I think 8pm is too late too!

Fire_Fox

The problem is many people don't get home from work or ferrying their children to activities while 6pm so if you want to catch people home there is only a very small window of opportunity. Plus volunteers have other commitments. If you don't want people collecting or selling at the door you might get a sign from the police or council, you can then donate directly to charity each month if you wish.

lilymay1

8pm in October is too late because it's pitch black outside.

I really dislike people knocking at my door begging.

Torry_Quine

I don't think that 8pm is late but there's absolutely no need for them to be rude and come twice.

moneypuddle

lilymay1 wrote: »

I really dislike people knocking at my door begging.

Me too, except I'm a bit more anti-social than that and really dislike people knocking on my door full stop

thegirlintheattic

Glad it's not just me.

I do live in a rural area with a lot of elderly people, so most people are in by early evening. There are very few of us who get in late.

System

They've probably been out all day,when i had the misfortune of doing an "experience day" with such a company they started at 9 and didn't finish till 10pm.

I do think its too late though I'm so grateful my door is somewhat hidden so i don't have to deal with these cretins.

rising_from_the_ashes

Ohhhhh so glad it's not just me!

I had some round at 8:15pm last night & was really p'd off and thought it was much too late.

I have the front door light off, a thick dark door curtain up so no light showing .... can people not take that as a hint that I do not want people at the door in the dark:

a) I'm single (female) so don't like opening the door unless I'm expecting someone
b) My dog (recently rescued) gets really stressed when the doorbell goes (unfortunately can't turn it off) or knocks
c) No way am I opening the door at that time of night as one of the cats will inevitably get out (and I'll spend the next several hours trying to get it back in again!).

Do you think a big sign with "if light is off, please don't ring bell / knock as I will NOT answer" would work?

rumncoke

My DS works for a charity company door knocking. They are licenced by the council to knock until 9pm. I appreciate that a lot of elderly people will not open the door once its dark, but as another poster commented with work and kids activities it can be 7pm or later before some are home.

There is no excuse for rudeness though.

anamenottaken

The Public Fundraising Regulatory Association stipulate that door-to-door fundraising can take place between 9 am and 9 pm (10 am on Sundays and public holidays).