Platypus wrote:Perfectly civil or not, I'm afraid they are not perfectly worthy of support. It's a known scam, and they prey on the goodwill and generosity of kind strangers. I've fallen for it myself before, when we lived in Islington - there is no shame in wanting to help people who seem to be trying to work their way out of a hole. But the more you buy from them, the more they will prey on others. If you google "door to door scam cleaning product" you'll find a lot of hits, some from police in various areas warning people it's a con. This is a more detailed explanation of what is actually going on:

http://www.safelocaltrades.com/consumer ... m-knockers

gah, I'd always assumed that these guys are genuine.

maybe half a dozen times ovre the years I've bought stuff from them even though it's hugely overpriced junk [e.g. very expensive scouring pads that are too fragile to do any scouring with].

this said I've only once had any unpleasantness from them.

Birchtree wrote:I had a guy come to the door with a big dark duffle on his back in the middle of the afternoon, and when I said we didn't buy at the door, he became quite aggressive and said something about him going to fight for his country?

About a year ago, walking down a pavement in W12 at around 4pm, I happened to glance at one of 2 fellows doing the rounds. Their behaviour caught my eye due to the large black duffle/backpack, and their irritation that not every door they tried was answered! I soon had reason to call the police as I was followed and threatened by one of them. The description is identical to the one I gave the police. I have not seen these 2 in SW I am sure it is the same fellow/s. Really horrible experience, worse at your own front door.

I had a guy come to the door with a big dark duffle on his back in the middle of the afternoon, and when I said we didn't buy at the door, he became quite aggressive and said something about him going to fight for his country?

Hi there. Just FYI.

My wife answered the door today to a guy who fits the description in the 1st post. She listened and politely declined and he then began ranting at her. I came to the door and told him the conversation was over. As he turned to leave he looked at our house number and said "Have a good Xmas number 5"

I took this as some sort of veiled threat and went after him in the car and stopped him. I asked him what he thought he was playing at. He was very apologetic and called me "Sir" perhaps due to the fact I'm a 17 stone Glaswegian police man. At one point he said "Don't worry I wouldn't do anything when your babies are in the house"
If I wasnt a police officer I would have... well, you can imagine.

I took his I.D and his name is Dale Butters and it had an address in Middlesborough. I left him in no doubt that he wasn't welcome at my door again. I got the feeling that there would be some form of reprisal.

If you see him coming my advice would be to not even open the door. 5'8 slim build, short brown hair, gap between his front teeth and a Geordie accent.

I've googled his name and he shows up on court records for threatening behaviour in Middlesborough.

Hope this helps someone one day.

Steve

alias wrote:Yes, thank you.
I had no idea they are not bona fide. I am obviously a bit gullible. I will go through Langley House from now on.

You have nothing to apologise for. You are a kind person who wants to help others - the ones who should be apologising are the creatures who prey on the goodness of others. Every good thing in this society has happened because there are people out there like you.

Goodness is not something to be ashamed of.

Yes, thank you.
I had no idea they are not bona fide. I am obviously a bit gullible. I will go through Langley House from now on.

I agree with Platypus.
This is not a registered scheme worthy of support, and there is no evidence it does anything to help former offenders reintegrate into society. Certainly the anecdotes on here about people being intimidated show that!

If you want to support a cause to help former offenders, can I recommend perhaps making a donation to the Langley House Trust charity, which receives lots of praise for its work with offenders:
http://www.langleyhousetrust.org/

Oh gosh, how appalling!
Thanks for letting us all know, Platypus.

Just unearthed this series of reports from various cities about "Nottingham Knockers" as the scam is known. Honestly, every time you make a purchase you encourage them to keep trying the area. There are genuine schemes to help young offenders - this isn't one of them.

Cambridge: http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Notting ... story.html

Lincolnshire: http://www.lincolnshireecho.co.uk/Door- ... story.html

Thames Valley: https://www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/da/ ... _scam.html

Perfectly civil or not, I'm afraid they are not perfectly worthy of support. It's a known scam, and they prey on the goodwill and generosity of kind strangers. I've fallen for it myself before, when we lived in Islington - there is no shame in wanting to help people who seem to be trying to work their way out of a hole. But the more you buy from them, the more they will prey on others. If you google "door to door scam cleaning product" you'll find a lot of hits, some from police in various areas warning people it's a con. This is a more detailed explanation of what is actually going on:

http://www.safelocaltrades.com/consumer ... m-knockers

Firstly, how absolutely awful for everyone who has been subjected to the behaviour of such an awful person. Very much hope that you've all recovered from the experience.

I am hoping that I won't cause offence with a gentle reminder (also to myself) that usually the young men and women on the door-to-door schemes are perfectly civil and worthy of our support. As someone said, the items are overpriced but just offer us a way to donate. I hope that this villain won't stop us from continuing to be generous when these youngsters come knocking. At least it keeps us in micro fibre cloths...

Hi.

Have you spoken to the council about the door to door callers. They have been really helpful in our street and while we can't be made a cold caller free zone they have supplied some really strongly worded stickers to put on the front door. Basically saying you don't accept cold callers and if they persist its a criminal offence. Since I've had a sticker on the door the number of people I've had turning up (typically in the middle of bath time!) has dropped dramatically.

It may be worth given them a call.

I have had this man at my door. The first time I said I didn't know if I had money, so left the door open and went into the kitchen where my handbag was. I turned around to find he had entered my house and was standing in the kitchen doorway waiting. I was cry unsettled and asked him to leave the house immediately. He made some joke about posh mums and left. I called my husband in tears as I was really shaken up.
The second time he came and when I very politely said I didn't give money out on my doorstep g became cry angry and cry rude. Called me a upper class c**t and I didn't have a clue what he had gone through in his life. Luckily my hubby (big beefy man who has worked in prisons with serious offenders) arrived and he legged it.
Still cry unsettling. I have since installed a entry phone with camera. And I report it to the neighbourhood police.

Pretty sure I had this guy call at my house around this time last year! I was getting out of my car and he crossed the road to meet me and walked to my front door while I was grappling with keys and bags. Apparently he'd already called at the house and spoke to my nanny and daughter and they were unsurprisingly freaked out. He asked me for a donation for ex offenders and when I politely declined he ranted on about what he'd been in prison for and called me a disgusting woman (!) living in a nice house. Have never spotted him since but weird it was same time last year.

Yep sounds like the fella, easiest thing is to politely not engage and shut the door.