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Door to door sales people - Dawn Hoskins (3rd Jun 2008 - 18:06:13) Door to door sales people I have been at home today (there will be a blue moon tonight)! I have been shocked that during the day two different door to door sales persons knocked at my door within a few hours of each other - both with the same strong regional accent. It made me feel quite spooked – like they were casing the place to see if anyone was out! Our little lane is usually impossible to find at the best of times – am I just being paranoid or are they looking for secluded little places where no one can see them? Does this normally go on or has a mini bus arrived in Passfield from up North to sell us tea towels!

Re: Door to door sales people - Niall G (3rd Jun 2008 - 21:23:19) Dawn, Don't door to door salesmen have to offer some form of ID; I certainly wouldn't be averse to asking for it, and reporting them to the Police if they refused to identify themselves?

Re: Door to door sales people - Sue W (3rd Jun 2008 - 21:24:46) Dawn, These people are frequent visitors to the area, and so are the 'students' who have made etching themselves - from a mass produced machine!! I find them very pushy, but I do appreciate that they are only trying to sell enough to get paid. Care should always be taken when anyone visits an area, but I dont think they have in anyway singled you out.

Re: Door to door sales people - jon (3rd Jun 2008 - 22:04:54) I too had a young lad knock on my door and also with a very heavy regional accent. He produced a huge I.D card introducing himself as part of a scheme to keep young offenders off the street. It is all very legal and I was very impressed with him. So hopefully the two you had knock were from the same scheme. If it happens again check the I.D. and contact the telephone number listed. You will also find that the goods you buy are sold to fund schemes like this all over the UK. I think it is a wonderful idea and would not hesitate to buy off them again in future.

Re: Door to door sales people - dawn (3rd Jun 2008 - 22:34:17) Dawn, Pop into the Parish Office, they have stickers you can put on your door/window stating you do not oblige cold callers. The stickers are produced by Hampshire County Council. If you can't get to the office let me know and i'll pick one up and pop in through your door

Re: Door to door sales people - Barbara (3rd Jun 2008 - 23:22:38) Dawn, Since we moved in a few months ago, we've had several of these guys come around - with regional accents (the same regional accent, I have to say, as I once had - and still do lapse (proudly) back into when speaking to my parents). So I just have to agree with the other posts - be careful when door-to-door salespeople appear, but please don't have sleepless nights over it - I don't think you were being singled out in any way.

Re: Door to door sales people - Eneida Nelson (4th Jun 2008 - 09:37:31) When we first moved to Liphook over 7 years ago now, the first person to knock on our door was one of these 'hard luck story' salesmen. It was early evening and dark and I was on my own at the time....well he was very aggresive and used a lot of Anglo-Saxon language when I refused to buy anything!! I don't scare easily, but he did scare me, so I knocked on a neighbours door and found out they'd had the same experience and many other people they knew on the Headley Road had too. I reported it to the Police who told me they were well known in the area and they called them the Nottingham Knockers because that was where they were bused down from. So legal or not, ever since I won't even open the door to anyone with a rucksack on their back.... Eneida

Re: Door to door sales people - Karen Feeney (4th Jun 2008 - 13:49:45) Yes, we had a visit from this sales person yesterday. I had just stopped outside my house to collect, as it was some Fun Day posters(!), and he appeared with his ruck sack and story about how he was just out of prison and how he was trying to make a living etc. I am all for people helping themselves and trying to improve their life etc. but he was very pushy and not terribly polite. (plus he didn't show any I.D.) When it became clear that I was very busy and also trying to get into my car to drive off, he stomped off with his rucksack making me feel very guilty! Well I don't want to buy Teatowels from a man in the middle of the street, I don't want any of the things that he is selling, so why should I be made to feel that his life is all going to come crashing down around his ears if I don't purchase a new squeezy sponge! To make matters worse, my seven year old son heard all the goings on and said to me when I had got into the car (eventually) 'Mummy, you were very harsh on him....' Blimey, then I really felt guilty, if only he had been selling chocolate or cakes - might have been tempted then!!!

Re: Door to door sales people - Steve Read (4th Jun 2008 - 18:17:11) Yep had various individuals knocking on the door, some youngsters with ID selling dusters tea towels etc and never had any problems and got some good deals on various items. Only a week ago had two eastern european chappies on the doorstep with one in broken english explaining about his mate who was deaf and dumb. After doing my bit for European relations and all that, they removed themselves off down the road only for me to spot them 10 minutes later sat up the road having a drink and chatting. Quality! In my experience the ones to watch out for are the ones who HAVE made an appointment, ie: Double Glazing & Kitchen manufacturers there is something about the word NO that they dont understand.

Re: Door to door sales people - Mike Grimes (4th Jun 2008 - 20:32:13) Karen, Good job you didn't tell him you bought your tea towels in Sainsbury's now! Then he'd have really got mad.

Re: Door to door sales people - claire (10th Jun 2008 - 16:33:21) Most of the young sales people who visit me are selling door to door as part of a nationally recognised probation scheme. They prove themselves able to put up with bigots being rude about their accents and appearance but more importantly it is the first step into full time employment. If they are able to stick with it for a few months they are able to get references and hopefully someone will give them a chance to put a poor start behind them. It's quite amusing that so many around here will support nice middle class charities by buying cards and hedgehog boot cleaners , but will not extend that support to kids who are actually trying to turn their lives around on the doorstep!

Re: Door to door sales people - Eneida (10th Jun 2008 - 18:11:31) I find it offensive to be classed as a 'bigot' for disliking being sworn at on my own doorstep!!! If you let me know where you live, next time one of these delightful young people calls, I'll direct them to your address for support and hugs ;) Eneida

Re: Door to door sales people - Dawn Hoskins (10th Jun 2008 - 19:18:55) I object to the insinuation that I am discriminating against people because they are not middle class or not speaking in a plumy accent. I would not buy on my doorstep from anyone – full stop. If I want a tea towel I will buy one on my own terms thank you very much. It is not bigotry to be offended when sales people are rude to you when you chose not to purchase from them, and quite frankly they should not get references from any one if they have been going around being rude to people on their own doorsteps – however I don’t suppose they tell their supervisors that this is what they have been up to and by this point we don’t have their phone number to complain. So, rude and sometimes intimidating ex-prisoners get good references for bad reasons if what you are saying is true. As it happens, I support many charities by both giving my time for free and by donating money. I do not chose the charities by their ‘class’ but by their worthiness. Over the years I have helped many people as a CAB worker and I would never give any lower standard of care or assistance to anyone due to their circumstances. Working for a voluntary charity like the CAB for instance is a much better way into employment for these young people than harassing people on their doorsteps and making them feel guilty. It is reprehensible for them to be behaving in the way that has been described and not appropriate that they can get a job reference from ‘sticking it out’. Also, these people are not on their own doorstep – they are miles away from home and have been shipped in as they see us as affluent easy pickings.

Re: Door to door sales people - Eneida (11th Jun 2008 - 09:32:10) Claire, You may interested in this warning issued by Derbyshire Police. Eneida Door-to-door sales scam fears raised Date: 23 April 2008 By Staff Copy Derbyshire Probation Service is warning people to be vigilant after reports of door-to-door sales people posing as ex-offenders. A number of incidents have been reported in the Derbyshire area with people attempting to sell products and services, claiming to be backed by a scheme run by the Probation Service. A spokesman for the service said it had nothing to do with such a scheme and advised people not to buy from those claiming to have its backing. Police advise householders is to not let strangers into their homes and to check their identities with the organisations they say they represent. Anyone approached by such a person or who spots anything suspicious should contact Derbyshire Police on 0845 123 3333. Last Updated: 22 April 2008 12:52 PM Source: Belper News

Re: Door to door sales people - Barry B (11th Jun 2008 - 12:20:49) Bigot: A person who is obstinately and blindly devoted to a particular view / party. Is this the same Claire being rude to people who recognise problems in / out of school. Pot / Kettle

Re: Door to door sales people - claire (11th Jun 2008 - 15:08:41) I would never advocate anyone buying from any sales person without verifying credentials neither would I fill 'charity bags ' that mysteriously appears on the doorstep without a little investigation.

Re: Door to door sales people - J (4th Feb 2014 - 19:30:54) Can we get official stickers anywhere to stop cold callers, I had a rude one calling this evening

Re: Door to door sales people - m (4th Feb 2014 - 20:50:35) tonight i had 2 'non local' men aged early 20's asking for £5 towards a charity, it was dark and late and i live in a quiet dead end, obviously i said no but very odd and i'd like to warn others.

Re: Door to door sales people - DML (5th Feb 2014 - 01:27:35) A few weeks ago about 8pm at night a youngish male stranger knocked on our door asking for a job reference of all things! My 18 year old daughter answered the door and politely fetched my husband - who gave him very short shrift and sent him packing .. we thought it a bit odd at the time and rather unsettling.

Re: Door to door sales people - Sarah (5th Feb 2014 - 07:08:59) Hampshire Trading Standards provide stickers for the door WE DO NOT BUY GOODS OR SERVICES AT THE DOOR available from Hampshire County Council. But they still knocked tonight. I'm all for giving to reputable charities but it is up to us to choose where and when surely.

Re: Door to door sales people - Nigel (5th Feb 2014 - 11:48:16) Whenever I open the door to a salesperson, they don't get a chance. Simply be firm but polite, when opening the door. Tell them you are not interested and close the door without discussion. They will (or should) soon go on their way. But the pushy ones are the guys selling double glazing etc. for a living, presumably their sales training teaches how to re-buff the word NO.. As for unemployed or offenders, I appreciate these guys have to start somewhere, and may be genuine, but without proper back-up support, how do we know the genuine guys from the rogues? Besides which, buying 'hand drawn' sketches/ tea towels etc out of suitcase on my doorstep doesn't interest me!

Re: Door to door sales people - Jools (5th Feb 2014 - 15:33:49) Last evening at about 8 .30 two young lads banked hard several times on our front door. I thought it was someone in trouble. It was pouring with rain and blowing a gale. This is NOT on at this time of night. How sorry I feel for older people on their own. I did dial 101 to report this matter but to no avail as there was no answer!!!!!! I shall be certain to get a door sticker from The Parish Office and only hope this stops these calls.

Re: Door to door sales people - Jay W (6th Feb 2014 - 16:10:02) I printed my "No cold callers" etc sign from the Martin Lewis Money Saving Expert website after someone on Liphook Talkback kindly directed me there a couple of years back. I have to say, since we put the sign up we haven't been bothered half as much. Now, just need to sort out the unwanted telephone calls and I'll be able to relax in my own home! moneysavingexpert.com no cold callers PDF It's a bit aggressive - but I guess it does the job.

Re: Door to door sales people - Wendy M (7th Feb 2014 - 14:19:54) Has anyone else recently had charity workers knocking on their doors asking that they sign up to give money to them? The last ones earlier this week were from Macmillan. This is like the "chuggers" on the streets. I rather resent someone standing on my doorstep asking for money, however good the charity, as I make my own choices about the charities I donate to.

Re: Door to door sales people - Jay W (8th Feb 2014 - 18:10:21) Crikey Mr Editor! I see what you mean - that's not the sign that I got from that website, nor is mine glaring yellow. Mine just says :- "No cold callers We won't buy from you and we don't need your advice. Please don't incur our wrath by knocking." Maybe people in other areas required something a little more ....... blunt?

Re: Door to door sales people - Mick (12th Feb 2014 - 06:57:14) Door to Door sales people: The sellers of tea towels, dusters etc are, are known as Nottingham Knockers (as previously stated) or Busy Bees and generally speaking, they are not to be trusted in any way(I can't emphasize this point too much) and I speak as a retired police officer who served 29 years in Portsmouth and dealt with their unlawful activities on a number of occasions. To sell items "door to door" requires a Pedlars Certificate issued by their local police which the seller must have in their possession and show to ANY person on demand when selling from door to door. Persons with previous convictions in a criminal court cannot obtain a certificate and a certificate isn't required if you are selling food stuffs including heather from door to door. Any pedlar who fails to present or show the certificate for inspection when required to by a police officer or person residing in the household shall be liable to arrest. Here is the definition of a pedlar under the relevant legislation; The Pedlars Act 1871: Any hawker, pedlar, petty chapman, tinker, caster of metals, mender of chairs or other person who without any horse or other beast bearing or drawing burden travels(includes modern transportation methods)and trades on foot and goes from town to town or to other men's houses carrying to sell or exposing for sale any goods wares or merchandise or procuring orders for goods or merchandise immediately to be delivered or selling or offering for sale his skill in handicraft. Persons found to be peddling without a certificate in the area I have lived and worked in for the past 35 years were routinely arrested, their goods seized and they were put before the courts. Cold Callers: To "stump" the door to door double glazing salesman, kitchen designers, insulation surveyors etc, please display the following notice on your front door and/or window on a nice bright coloured paper/card for visual effect. The sign speaks for itself and needs little elaboration. The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 NO COLD CALLERS We don’t need your advice! We won’t buy from you! Please leave and don’t return. Failure to do so is a criminal offence Charities and Religious groups?. Please don’t knock either. Also, get the Parish council to make the necessary moves to have Liphook and the parish declared a "No Cold Calling" zone. Here is a link to explain and assist; www3.hants.gov.uk/tradingstandards/... I hope this information is of some assistance and benefit to you all and that I've covered all points.

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