Door to door gutter cleaners

TELLIT01

This is a story told by a guy I worked with in the 80's.  I have no reason to believe it not to be true.

He had a friend who had recently left a job in the insurance sector who told him about the scripts both phone and personal callers used to hook potential customers.  My colleague was cold called and agreed to an agent visiting him at home.  He claims they spent a couple of hours stringing the sales guy along by 'thinking about it' and finally giving the expected answer to the questions.  The sales person had all the paperwork out expecting them to sign up and didn't know how to react when he was told they weren't interested and wouldn't sign anything.

This may sound like a rotten thing to do, but bear in mind this was in the days of the real hard sell where immense pressure was applied on people to sign up.

Mutton_Geoff

Martin has useful info on this page under

"How to stop cold callers to your door"

.. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/no-more-junk/

TELLIT01

That's precisely the wording on the one on my door and still the muppets come to the door.

clive0510

I was round my sister and brother-in-laws place once, and we saw two guys walk up the garden path and knock on the door. one of them had a clipboard with him. brother-in-law opened the door, said something to one of the guys and shut the door firmly in his face. when my sister asked what he said he told her 'I said no thankyou'. too which my sister said, 'thats all very well, but what about if they come back when I'm here alone?'. 

couriervanman

DiddyDavies said:

clive0510 said:

I once had an irish guy knock on the door here, saying he was doing some work up the road

I phoned a local roofer and told him. he said need to remove the bottom row of tiles, clean all the old stuff off and fit new.

we had a guy to paint the outside front n back,

Why did you feel the need to mention that the first caller was Irish but didn't mention the nationality of the other two people?

Because a fair proportion of door knock....can I clean your gutters/fix your roof etc are from Irish/travelling people 

clive0510

I wouldn't entertain any one who knocks on my door or phones me out of the blue. if I want something doing, I either do it myself, ask friends or family, or call a professional. simple really.

AskAsk

TELLIT01 said:

That's precisely the wording on the one on my door and still the muppets come to the door.

that is a pretty ugly sign on the door to be honest.  i had a small no cold calling sign with a cross over it, like a no smoking sign, which i printed out on a big sticky label.

theonlywayisup

Mutton_Geoff said:

Martin has useful info on this page under

"How to stop cold callers to your door"

.. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/no-more-junk/

Is a Criminal Offence.  Which one. 

DiddyDavies

theonlywayisup said:

Mutton_Geoff said:

Martin has useful info on this page under

"How to stop cold callers to your door"

.. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mobiles/no-more-junk/

Is a Criminal Offence.  Which one. 

They don't specify exactly what part of the reg's would cover it but there is a mention here:
https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/business-and-consumers/trading-standards/finding-a-trader/rogue-traders-scams-and-cold-callers/door-step/what-is-the-law-on-door-step-cold-calling

However, the law states that a trader who ignores a resident's request to leave and not return commits a criminal offence under the provisions of The Consumer Protection From Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.

It could possibly come under Aggressive commercial practices and harassment if a trader knocks when already advised not to by the notice or keeps returning when specifically requested not to.

7.—(1) A commercial practice is aggressive if, in its factual context, taking account of all of its features and circumstances—

(a)it significantly impairs or is likely significantly to impair the average consumer’s freedom of choice or conduct in relation to the product concerned through the use of harassment, coercion or undue influence; and

(b)it thereby causes or is likely to cause him to take a transactional decision he would not have taken otherwise.

(2) In determining whether a commercial practice uses harassment, coercion or undue influence account shall be taken of—

(a)its timing, location, nature or persistence;

TELLIT01

AskAsk said:

TELLIT01 said:

That's precisely the wording on the one on my door and still the muppets come to the door.

that is a pretty ugly sign on the door to be honest.  i had a small no cold calling sign with a cross over it, like a no smoking sign, which i printed out on a big sticky label.

The one I have is much smaller and was supplied by the local constabulary.  It even has their badge on it for all the difference it makes.