How to Beat Doorstep Callers

Paul_Varjak

miss_scrooge wrote: »

Could get one of them spy holes in your door look through hole and if you don't know the caller then just don't open door that's what I do.Could even just look out your window if you can see the door from there and not answer if you don't recognise them.You must have 100s of cold callers to go to all that trouble to keep them out.

Not sure how a spy hole would stop junk mail nor how you would determine that an unrecognised caller is not bona fide - it could be someone from Premium Bonds telling you had won the jackpot.

The fact is a phone allows you to filter out the genuine unrecognised caller from the one you don't wish to open the door to.

miss_scrooge

I like junk mail get money off coupons like mcdonalds coupons and adverts advertising cheap products in shop.If they were from premium bond wouldn't they write first.I think the phones worse for cold callers at least you can see whos at the door.Sometimes people on phone withhold number.

Paul_Varjak

miss_scrooge wrote: »

I like junk mail get money off coupons like mcdonalds coupons and adverts advertising cheap products in shop.If they were from premium bond wouldn't they write first.I think the phones worse for cold callers at least you can see whos at the door.Sometimes people on phone withhold number.

I agree that cold callers on the phone can be worse than cold callers at the door. But cold callers on the phone can't beat you over the head with a baseball bat.

If you were to win £1 million on premium bonds you would get a visit from a very nice lady the day before the results are announce by NS&I. She would present you with a cheque there and then!

If you read my first post you will note that when people call me I can actually see their number, even though it is withheld. So, if some bogus cold caller does come to my house and rings the number on my gate, I will have some evidence as to their identity.

So, my phone system can be used to block any bogus caller, whether they are calling me from a call centre or from a mobile just outside my gate.

For those who already have a smartphone, the cost to set up and run is £0 and can be done in minutes. No need for an intercom and I can control access to my driveway, garden etc. from virtually anywhere in the world.

katejo

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

I am always trying to think of ways to beat those dreaded doorstep callers and junk mail deliverers. I think I now have the solution...

I have needed new gates for some time and will be ordering iron gates with a combination lock. Only the postman, friends and neighbours will be given the combination, which can be changed at any time.

The postman will have a special instruction at the depot telling him the combination of the lock. So, even if a relief postman is used, the special instruction will remind the deliverer of the combination. Postmen carry those special instructions with them when they are on their delivery rounds.

I had thought of using an intercom system but sales callers would, no doubt, press the intercom despite any instruction not to do so. Instead, I will have a dedicated 01 local number phone number (free from Flextel using 'credits') displayed on the gate should any genuine person require entry. That number will divert to my mobile phone over WiFi (entirely for free) so I can answer the call anywhere on my property (or at any WiFi hotspot) and go to the gate to open it, or provide the visitor with the combination so they can open the gate themselves.

So, I will get the benefit of mail being delivered through the letterbox by the postman but getting junk mail rejected. I doubt doorstep sales callers will bother calling a phone number but, if they do, my phone is set up to record ALL calls. Also, even if a caller withholds their number, I can still see their number and call them back to say I am not interested! Lastly, I can also block any nuisance callers quite easily on my Android phone!

I am looking forward to peace at last without having to adorn the house with pesky sales stickers which often did not work anyway!

perhaps some of the junk mail such as pizza takeaway ads will just be thrown over the gate onto the path for you to clear up .

Surely it is not possible to force a phone number to show if someone chooses to withhold it ? Could be a safety issue

paddyrg

Great that the small independent courier paid by the job at 40p/drop has to spend their time and money calling you... Alternatively throw the package over the fence ;-)

miss_scrooge

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

I agree that cold callers on the phone can be worse than cold callers at the door. But cold callers on the phone can't beat you over the head with a baseball bat.

If you were to win £1 million on premium bonds you would get a visit from a very nice lady the day before the results are announce by NS&I. She would present you with a cheque there and then!

If you read my first post you will note that when people call me I can actually see their number, even though it is withheld. So, if some bogus cold caller does come to my house and rings the number on my gate, I will have some evidence as to their identity.

So, my phone system can be used to block any bogus caller, whether they are calling me from a call centre or from a mobile just outside my gate.

For those who already have a smartphone, the cost to set up and run is £0 and can be done in minutes. No need for an intercom and I can control access to my driveway, garden etc. from virtually anywhere in the world.

But cold callers on phone sell your details again and again at least if somebody beat you on head with baseball bat you can see them first and see what kind of person they are.Well I would I can tell if a person is good or not.I'm a good judge of character.You could move house and get a flat with intercom or glue down your letterbox if you want to be dramatic ha ha.

Paul_Varjak

katejo wrote: »

perhaps some of the junk mail such as pizza takeaway ads will just be thrown over the gate onto the path for you to clear up .

They would just be reported to the local Council for littering

katejo wrote: »

Surely it is not possible to force a phone number to show if someone chooses to withhold it ? Could be a safety issue

It certainly is possible, I have such a system running for around a year now and it costs me nothing.

Paul_Varjak

paddyrg wrote: »

Great that the small independent courier paid by the job at 40p/drop has to spend their time and money calling you... Alternatively throw the package over the fence ;-)

If I order from anywhere using an independent carrier they can be given the combination number at the time of the order. Royal Mail, Parcelforce, meter readers and many independent couriers all operate a 'special instruction' scheme.

Paul_Varjak

miss_scrooge wrote: »

But cold callers on phone sell your details again and again at least if somebody beat you on head with baseball bat you can see them first and see what kind of person they are.

Not sure why you would prefer to be beaten on the head with a baseball bat in preference to having your details sold on.

custardy

Paul_Varjak wrote: »

The postman will have a special instruction at the depot telling him the combination of the lock. So, even if a relief postman is used, the special instruction will remind the deliverer of the combination. Postmen carry those special instructions with them when they are on their delivery rounds.

No they dont