This is too much!

We had 3 knockers in our street last week... how many shabby dishcloths do these people think we go through.

I told each one that someone had already been around selling this "tat" (although I never said tat! ).

Two were ok with that but one muttered something darkly...

Each one gave me the "just give me two minutes" routine and unzipped their bag... I said there was no point and closed the door.

This routine must be a big earner for these "Knockers" as there are mare and more gangs of them each year, the routine is the same, the patter is the same, the shoddy goods are the same.

Please don't buy from them through mis-placed pity. It just seems to encourage them!

i'm in SW12 and i arrived home as someone was walking up to the neighbours door - over the fence he asked "I'm selling a home security system you can control from your phone, do you have any home security installed?" I said "there is no way i am answering that question! don't bother ringin our bell as my husband will just tell you to go away"

my husband was not home - but I was standing there with my 2yr old...

he muttered something about me being a dogs mother....

luckily my elderly neighbours were not home.

I live in Lambeth. We have 'no cold calling' signs up at either end of the street and it makes no difference.

Even after you point this out they still continue knocking on doors!

I believe the dishcloth sellers are referred to as "Knockers" - they travel around in a group in a Transit van and just descend on a neighbourhood.

I saw a documentary about them - they are well organised and rely on your pity to buy articles for 10 times the price. Mostly they say they are ex-offenders building up their "references" - the official cards they wear mean nothing.

Even when you say you are not interested they say "just give me five minutes" and they quickly zip open their bags to force you to buy... They are of dubious legality and don't believe them, they earn by selling you overpriced goods.

I sometimes get caught out so I quickly say that I have already bought from another knocker a few weeks ago and thanks but no thanks. When they want "five minutes of my time" I repeat and say they are wasting their own time, thank you and goodbye (close door).... Always works!

This is a bit like the people that knock on your door with cleaning cloths etc & then get really arsey when you don't want to buy anything.

I heard that in some parts of Lambeth they have a no solicitation rule in place. Does anyone know if this works, and if yes, could we get it expanded to other areas. I've had similar people lately at all different hours and sometimes get the same angry response which makes me feel quite vulnerable.

Thanks for the post. I am living just next to you, and I am with two children at home ( waiting for my husband to come back from work), so good to know to dont open door to anybody...

I just want to give everyone a head up.
I live on Palma Cresent, SW11.
A man has just rung my door bell. He is a young offender from Middlesbrough wanting money to help pay for a scaffoing course (so he says.)
I asked for ID and all he produced was a laminated card he probably printed off from a computer (no name or photo.)
I said very politely that I do not just hand money out on my front door step.
He got very angry very quickly, and started shouting and swearing at me before he left.
I wasn't very fazed as it happens more and more round here, but to the more sensetive it could have been quite alarming or scary so I wanted to give a head up to those who find these situations uncomfortable.