General Chat

A young person knocks on the door. They say something like 'Are your the householder' etc., then it's 'Are you aware that this house was built before the war?' My response 'Quite a long while before the war but it suffered no bomb damage!'. Young person 'We have a team of experts coming round to assess what needs to be done to the property...' 'It's free; no charge...' When I say I'm not interested this encourages inane comments such as 'Aren't you interested in maintaining your property/having essential works done...' When I tell them at least 6 other people have called saying the same things over the last year Young Person says with mock surprise 'I am finding this!'. I answered 'that's what they all say; Goodbye'. Close door. I've a good mind to ask for the details of the firm they work for next time they call. Will they tell me, though!

We have a sticker on the door:

"No cold callers. We do not buy at the door. This includes Utilities, pensions, insurance, financial advice and religion".

They still call.

I wait until they have done their speil, "I am here to advise you.... help you..... offer you..... etc".,
I say, "Is that a good job you have?",
The answer is usually, "er, um, yes".
I say, "Do you have to have qualifications to do that job?"
They usually say no but it does not matter if they say yes.
Then I say, "Do you have to be able to read?".
"Well, er, um, yes.........".

Point to the sticker and shut the door.

My hubby came out with a great one when asked if he was the homeowner by a cold caller at the front door, he said no I am just the babysitter and off they trundled.

I like Bernie's idea but I think some clever so and so would say 'I'm not selling anything'. It just annoys me that they think we're so gullible.

One of my neighbours heard her front door bell one winter afternoon. She looked out of the window and saw a man she didn't recognise so she ignored him and went back to her knitting. A minute later she heard a noise in the kitchen and there was this chap removing the glass slats from the window to break in! She shouted at him and he walked off down her garden and said 'Awlright Mrs, I'm goin'! What a cheek! They've replaced that window now.

i had a lad about 18/20 at the door the other day. He had a bag with him and asked if I wanted to buy anything.
No idea what it was and he didnt have a badge on. I just said no thank you but thanks for asking anyway.

Marion

We had one of those a while ago - somebody trying to convince me we needed the moss removing from our roof. Fortunately, Mum and Dad were in the Shetlands so I managed to get rid of him by saying I wasn't the householder and it wasn't up to me to make decisions about things like that. (I'm in my twenties and we've got a 4 bedroom, detached house - I really can't believe I look like I could afford a place like ours on my own!)

We have got one of those "No cold callers signs" but they don't seem to take any notice. It does worry me a bit because we have a couple of very elderly ladies as neighbours and, as my mum says, it only takes somebody overhearing that cold caller saying an old lady lives on her own on X road and they could get burgled or even get more of these callers.

Open door, say no thankyou, close door.

i wouldnt even open door if not sure of who it is shout who is it and then shout no thanks when they explain or get chain lock put on so you have bit of security you cant be to careful in this day and age