What can I do to stop Door-to-Door salespeople ?

elsien

if you do inadvertently answer, take their details and report them to whichever body has sent them out. It won't stop the others but it may mean that that particular organisation takes more care in future. 

dispossessed

Debran said:

A few years ago our council set up a "No Cold Calling Zone" in the village.  Can't remember the last time we had anyone touting their wares.

Google "No Cold Calling Zones" for infornation.

We actually live in a 'No Cold Calling Zone' - there are signs on many of the roads including those leading to ours. The zone has been in place since the initiative began about ten years ago.These are not legally enforceable and our experience is that as a result they have little effect.

Arthur

dispossessed

elsien said:

if you do inadvertently answer, take their details and report them to whichever body has sent them out. It won't stop the others but it may mean that that particular organisation takes more care in future. 

A significant number of them are of the roof repairs, trees pruned and "little bit of tarmac left over..." variety ...if you catch my drift...

Arthur

SeaVixen

The camera doorbell is a sensible solution, but if you're concerned they'll continue to knock instead (and the device needs them to press the button to function) then you might be better updating your security camera to one that has a microphone and speaker unit - that could serve the same function if they knock or ring.

One visible sign is all you'll need - if they're going to ignore it, it doesn't matter if you have 100 signs up unfortunately. Once you have either the doorbell/new camera set up, you could consider removing the signs altogether. If it's being largely ignored, it's not serving any purpose. However, it is highlighting potential vulnerability to would-be burglars.  

Best of luck!

TELLIT01

dispossessed said:

A significant number of them are of the roof repairs, trees pruned and "little bit of tarmac left over..." variety ...if you catch my drift...

Arthur

Not only can't they read, they can't add up either. Their final bill is always much bigger than the initial one.

TELLIT01

SeaVixen said:

One visible sign is all you'll need..... If it's being largely ignored, it's not serving any purpose. However, it is highlighting potential vulnerability to would-be burglars.  

Best of luck!

I presume you mean they are predominantly used by the more mature members of our society.  I would personally dispute that.  We put them on our front door when we moved into our current house.  I was 37 at that time.

Carrot007

I do live in a no cold callings zone and I hardly get any. The ones that do obviously believe charities do not count ;-)

One issue is I think the signs are poorly worded and often seen as a challenge.

Maybe. I aint buying stuff from you, but I will string you on for as long as possible. Maybe even make an appointment where I will then not answer the door. I'm sure your bosses will be happy with you.

dispossessed

SeaVixen said:

The camera doorbell is a sensible solution, but if you're concerned they'll continue to knock instead (and the device needs them to press the button to function) then you might be better updating your security camera to one that has a microphone and speaker unit - that could serve the same function if they knock or ring.

One visible sign is all you'll need - if they're going to ignore it, it doesn't matter if you have 100 signs up unfortunately. Once you have either the doorbell/new camera set up, you could consider removing the signs altogether. If it's being largely ignored, it's not serving any purpose. However, it is highlighting potential vulnerability to would-be burglars.  

Best of luck!

When I originally installed the camera it was primarily intended purely as a deterrent to cold callers rather than a communicaton device. Obviously, as a deterrent it has failed. Adding a microphone etc might enable me to communicate without going to the door but it does not prevent the interruption.

Although I will investigate these video doorbells - I was unaware about them until advised on this forum - the same limitation would also apply. Additionally, as previously mentioned - if, for whatever reason, 90% of callers don't use the door knocker, I cannot envisage they will use a doorbell (video or otherwise).

Our home security measures were actually based on some advice given by a burglar (serving five years IIRC). They've proved effective for the last thirty years and the current crop of notices have been on the door for at least the last seven.

Alas, it is the cold callers who currently remain the more irritating problem.

Arthur

dispossessed

Carrot007 said:

I do live in a no cold callings zone and I hardly get any. The ones that do obviously believe charities do not count ;-)

One issue is I think the signs are poorly worded and often seen as a challenge.

Maybe. I aint buying stuff from you, but I will string you on for as long as possible. Maybe even make an appointment where I will then not answer the door. I'm sure your bosses will be happy with you.

I'm pleased that living in a No Cold Calling Zone has proved effective for you. It hasn't for us and as I have said they are not legally enforceable.

Charity collectors are the bane of our lives too and you have my sympathy. During the approach to the Christmas period we even have various unidentifiable people knocking on the door asking simply asking for cash directly (i.e not carol 'singers' etc). A Freedom of Information Request confirmed that last year all of these collections were done with the approval of the district council. 

One of our signs is the one recommended and downloadable from this MSE website. Another was designed by local Trading Standards and the Police. However I accept that some people may not be able to read them although I would have thought they were rather indicative of a prohibition purely from their design. The 'STOP!' symbol etc being an international standard.

I remain hopeful that there may be a simple solution that does not involve a decomposing corpse or creative use of electricity.

Arthur

-taff

How about a signt hat says, No cold callers. If you ignore this we will report you to your organisation for not respecting our privacy.