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Door Knockers - Renata (22nd Jan 2019  18:27:43) Yeh! More door knockers at the Berg estate this evening

Re: Door Knockers - Andy (22nd Jan 2019  20:03:45) Another delightful door knocker again. When told we don’t buy on the doorstep the smile turns into a tirade of filth. When are these vile individuals going to me banned from knocking on doors?

Re: Door Knockers - Elizabeth (22nd Jan 2019  21:00:28) They swore at me too when I said I wasn't interested. Headley Road / Tunbridge Crescent

Re: Door Knockers - Irene (22nd Jan 2019  21:31:42) Had the same thing one just after 6pm whose language left a lot to be desired when I told him politely to go away then had another one just after 8pm who again used bad language when told I don't buy from anyone who knocks the door. I am in headley road.

Re: Door Knockers - G (22nd Jan 2019  21:35:13) Thanks for the heads up. If we are not expecting a knock at the door, I will switch my phone camera to record before opening the door. Had few late night shoppers in the garden around the shed recently. The dog is looking forward to helping if they can't find what they want. All about customer service.

Re: Door Knockers - Adrian (22nd Jan 2019  21:37:35) Knockers where also out on Tunbridge Cresent/ Mead area yesterday. Two fat old white men seen in a white van driving about. Looked suspicious. Possibly acting as part of the knockers gang checking them out driveways and properties.

Re: Door Knockers - Jim (22nd Jan 2019  22:43:20) If they get aggressive, please report it to the police

Re: Door Knockers - Elizabeth (22nd Jan 2019  22:45:17) Walked the dog to the Co-op around 9pm and there were two white vans parked up in Tower Road.

Re: Door Knockers - Jack (23rd Jan 2019  09:49:36) Had a very rude young man at the door last night. He got in a bit of a strip when I said I wouldn't buy from him. We don't need this!

Re: Door Knockers - Jude (23rd Jan 2019  10:00:51) Hi We had two door knockers in the space of two hours yesterday evening, both of them were very polite.

Re: Door Knockers - Rölli (23rd Jan 2019  12:02:38) I suspect the tone and manner of some residents when confronted by cold callers may lead to issues. Abuse is absolutely wrong, unacceptable and should be reported, but the situation may be helped by initially showing a less confrontational and hostile attitude perhaps?

Re: Door Knockers - oldie (23rd Jan 2019  12:25:18) Maybe the lack of local policing is making us all a bit paranoid and uneasy (where's the nearest 24 hour police station in Hampshire now, Portsmouth, Alton, Southampton??? Anyone know because I don't?). If society is not careful, next we'll be seeing vigilantes on the streets after dark or homeowners opening their peepholes and shouting 'get lost and don't come back' at strangers, or a bucket of water poured over the Christian Aid lady from the first floor window. Being vigilant is very important and I appreciate the heads up on doorknockers too, but proportion please. Why be rude? I'm not saying anyone has, but maybe question your own response to these tradespeople (whether we like it or not that's how they'll see themselves). Just smile and say as politely as you can muster, bearing in mind the awkward situation, 'sorry, nothing personal I don't buy on the doorstep, but I wish you very good luck', that's the best approach, they have never been rude to me yet, in addition I'd recommend putting a polite notice on the door saying no doorsellers etc. They are after all, quite within the law to sell small items on the doorstep if they wish, they are working, it's an ancient trade, why be confrontational?

Re: Door Knockers - liz (23rd Jan 2019  13:28:31) Rolli and Oldie My last experience of these people when they knocked on my door (at 9pm) was not very positive. I told the guy quite politely that I didn't want anything so he went off down the drive swearing and shouting abuse as he went. Quite intimidating.

Re: Door Knockers - Adrian (23rd Jan 2019  18:20:23) Get an old black bag fill it will old tat and festering socks and when the pike key knocks sell him some of his own medicine.

Re: Door Knockers - Roger & Adrian (23rd Jan 2019  19:22:23) Just been out with the dogs. Knockers are out tonight London Rd and in Tower Rd towards Headley Rd. My partner Adrian also saw them earlier in Midhurst Rd carpark on his way to Sainsbury’s.

Re: Door Knockers - lac (23rd Jan 2019  22:41:37) In response to "oldie" I would say I politely told a door knocker last year that I never buy anything from the doorstep. His response was to tell me to f*** off you c***. Needless to say I was unimpressed by being told that on my own doorstep, so I informed the police through the non emergency line. I understand the knockers were later moved on by the police, who do actually take these things seriously. The general thread of these postings is that some of these people are very unpleasant and being intimidated on your own doorstep is not acceptable. There are plenty of ways of making living out there. Knocking door to door and intimidating people is not one of them. They are as intrusive as the lowlifes who thought making "marketing" telephone calls were acceptable.

Re: Door Knockers - Rölli (24th Jan 2019  08:55:32) Lac -to quote you 'They are as intrusive as the lowlifes who thought making "marketing" telephone calls were acceptable'. Based on this statement I suspect your attitude on your doorstep is not as polite as you infer!

Re: Door Knockers - Anon (24th Jan 2019  09:46:34) These door knockers are criminals and there conditions for being free is to sell items at doors. They are only trying to satisfy the Court system.

Re: Door Knockers - liz (24th Jan 2019  13:16:59) I thought I had read on a previous thread that although this is what they tell you no such scheme actually exists. There is also this link... safelocaltrades.com/consumers/advice/doorstep-pedlars

Re: Door Knockers - Andrew (24th Jan 2019  13:44:39) Lac - I had a similar experience to you on Tuesday evening. Polite refusal and then verbal abuse. Refusal to move and stared out on my own doorstep. He had even come to my back door in the dark. My 10 year old daughter was very upset and concerned by what she had seen. I do not question the posts that suggest polite refusal has been answered with abuse. I have experienced it.

Re: Door Knockers - Adrian (24th Jan 2019  14:10:31) Be warned. First come the door knockers then it will be shed, car and house break ins. Door knockers are often doing reconnaissance for thieves. Two fat old grubby looking white men a transit van with ladder were walking onto driveways on Monday AM near Paddock Way. Reported to 101.

Re: Door Knockers - Jane (24th Jan 2019  15:30:24) Nottingham Knockers - agree the abuse is unreal have also experienced the verbal assault including the C word in front of my kids and aggressive intimidation when I said I don't buy from the door. It's a scam, do not buy, they don't have a licence and they aren't on a offenders scheme. There are often burglaries a few weeks later as in that time they have seen where you keep your door keys/hand bag etc. If you buy anything - don't - you will get ripped off and more opportunity for them to see where you keep your valuables for a tatty duster in exchange and they will keep visiting you. They are visiting the area more frequently and should be reported on 101 for the Police to deal with.

Re: Door Knockers - Penny (24th Jan 2019  15:51:04) @Rolli and Oldie I think is has been made abundantly clear that it is not the homeowners who have “the attitude” and even if they are not exactly friendly that does not justify the door knockers’ responses and disgusting language. Liz stated that she had a “door knocker” at 9pm. That is totally unacceptable particularly at this time of year when it is dark. Have either of you ever given a thought that the homeowner might be scared particularly if they live on their own? In my opinion cold calling whether it be in person or on the phone should be made illegal. It is intrusive and in most cases very unwelcome.

Re: Door Knockers - oldie (24th Jan 2019  18:11:28) Well admittedly Penny, the more I read about these and other door knockers, the more unpleasant they sound and I'd recommend not answering to them. But still the question remains, are they legally permitted to do this (has anyone asked to see their police permits, I wonder) and do they respect those little 'no cold caller' stickers. I know the police publish announcements on here occasionally, it would be interesting to hear their perspective. I still maintain they've never been rude to me, although I'm not exactly little, nonetheless I have always followed a policy of being very pleasant to people who knock on my door (being that I'm at a disadvantage, they know where I live but I don't know where they do), so if I'm unlucky enough to answer to them (which, like everyone else) I try to avoid if possible, I follow the best advice on here which is be firm, but very polite and never buy anything, don't engage in conversation and just say 'terribly sorry bad timing, I'm just giving the Rottweilers a bath", or something like that!

Re: Door Knockers - Helen G (24th Jan 2019  18:36:33) I was called a 'slag' and a 'whore' when I declined their wares.

Re: Door Knockers - Elizabeth (24th Jan 2019  20:55:55) thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/da/228308/Nottingham_Knockers As soon as I saw the crumpled "authorisation" HAWKER (Tried to paste an image but failed - see safelocaltrades.com/consumers/advice/doorstep-pedlars I said, "Oh, no thank you." and the reply was "You didn't even listen. You F****** C*** That was on my own doorstep in the dark. That's what I call abusive and intimidating behaviour. He walked away swearing at us and I must admit I was scared and glad that my son was at home.

Re: Door Knockers - Fred Halligan (25th Jan 2019  11:46:06) Write to Damian Hinds and demand that he speak to the home office. Demand that these people are told not to try and seek retribution for their crimes through the intolerable abuse of citizens who they also see as potential customers and who may not want to buy the tat they have to sell. The source of the problem is that someone in the judicial system somewhere along the chain has thought and advised that this door stepping behaviour is acceptable. In fact it is worse than cold calling which is now illegal. The least that needs to be done is that these people should be given a lesson in how to engage with the general public. Even better, with the amount of people impacted, it is imperative that this is made illegal. Damian Hinds is our MP and better able to contrive a positive outcome to this or at lease set one in motion.

Re: Door Knockers - Helen (25th Jan 2019  12:16:49) Fred, I doubt Mr B Hinds has got much time for us now he’s a Cabinet Minister.

Re: Door Knockers - dave (25th Jan 2019  13:44:00) Fred Cold calling is not illegal. However, any trader that ignores a sticker or notice on your door stating that you do not wish to receive cold calls may be committing a criminal offence. Also, any trader that ignores any requests by you to leave and not return is committing a criminal offence. Anyone who does cold call and offers to sell you goods or services that cost more than ÂŁ42 must provide you with a written notice giving you 14 days to cancel the agreement. Anyone who fails to give this notice will also be committing a criminal offence, which Trading Standards can investigate. You are probably confused by the amount of legislation. Telephone sales, e-marketing etc are now more heavily regulated but NOT ILLEGAL

Re: Door Knockers - Ian (25th Jun 2019  11:51:59) Door to door hawkers claiming to part of an offender rehab programme back in Liphook today. This is the usual "Nottingham Knockers" scam of selling cheap products for high prices while "casing your home" and identifying potential victims of acquisitive crime to pass on. Don't engage them, don't let them see into your home, don't give them any reason to believe there is cash on your premises. If they are abusive close the door and call 101.

Re: Door Knockers - Alfredo Jones (25th Jun 2019  12:30:36) Very unpleasant people who are doing this, reacting to intimidate. The world of humanity is unpleasant.

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