Youths selling overpriced dishcloths door-to-door

[bels123]

The same thing happened to me when I was in on my own, it was past 10pm and was met with abuse when I politely said I wasn't interested. Was concerned that their next stop would be at an elderly neighbour so I phoned the Dulwich Community Wardens who said they'd keep a look out. They also recommended getting the details of the card the next time they show up in order to report them to trading standards.

Recommend people contact Dulwich Community Wardens

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

One of the gang threatened to set fire to my house last time they came knocking after I refused to give them my wife's mobile number (she had allegedly shown an interest in the cloths earlier). It was at that point that I guessed they weren't a legit charity. Very nearly came to blows in the street.

[snoopy28]

This happened to us too - they were very abusive and I was quite scared, luckily my husband was with me but I'd hate to have to deal with that if I was on my own. We've just decided that if we aren't expecting someone we don't answer the door, it's the most simple solution ...

[KestonKid]

When we lived in north London some years back, some of these dish-cloth merchants did our road and, discovering that we were out, jemmied the front window and did a quick circuit of the house, finally making off with the video (natch) and a couple of gold fob watches, neither happily working. Call the police whenever you see anyone similarly employed; there may be one or two genuine cases, but they will just have to suck it up as far as I am concerned.

[HAL9000]

A blind man used to sell household odds and ends door-to-door. He was always polite and his prices were reasonable. We always bought something from him but he hasn't been around for some years now. Anyone else remember him?

[jim_the_chin]

I used to buy things from these people years ago but then wised up after I googled the name of the company on a pack of 10 quid cloths I was mugged for - it was a limited company and the only trace was a winding up order.

[Sue]

My ex used to buy stuff from them (in ED) because he felt sorry for them. Must have been in the nineties.

It was always total rubbish and very expensive.

[Lawrence]

You are all very lucky. The actual sale of the dishcloths is simply the basic salary, and secondary objective. The real income here is from theft. This is why the visits are often done late, during the day they will have been offering rubbish disposal(read fly tipping and theft). You hardly ever get this sort of thing in Catford!

[Sue]

How do you know this, Lawrence? Not saying you're wrong, just wonder what evidence you have.

Edited to say: They used to come round during the day in the nineties.

[Lawrence]

Well I've just picked up a new box of towels.......

To be honest Sue, there is no evidence for this sort of thing. Which is a large part of it's success. If you are prepared to rip people off, pretend to be a charity and tell residents to f*** off on their own doorsteps there is no way your morals will stop you from taking opportunity where you find it. My work and nature has resulted in hearing an awful lot of tales of misspent youth.

My post was a little tongue in cheek, and obviously there are also folk collecting scrap and selling tat who have no intention of doing anything else.

Edit due to stupidity

[Sue]

If you have no evidence, why do you say "the real income here is from theft"? That's a serious accusation.

Aggressive selling of overpriced teatowels is one thing, but at least if you answer the door you have the choice to say no. Theft is something else altogether.

[heber jumble queen]

The last time this mob knocked on my door (which has happened many many times over past 15 years) I politely said 'no thanks' and also received a tirade of abuse - the guy tried to stop me closing my door and then continued to shout abuse and threats through my letter box for several minutes, which terrified my 2 kids.

They are definately not a charity, nothing like, and for whoever claimed they were young men down on their luck trying to earn an honest crust - NO they're not - I have no idea whether they're also stealing, but I would second calling the police or community wardens as I've experienced intimidating behaviour from them several times.

[Lawrence]

That's a serious accusation

No it's not, there is no specific party mentioned only a type and those under discussion are clearly ...... sorry that would be another unproven accusation.

I would far rather my bike/ whatever was stolen than my family abused and frightened through the door. Aggressive selling to persons unable or unwilling to risk defending themselves is in fact theft.

[HonaloochieB]

Never open your door unless one of your neighbours from either upstairs or round the corner has gently called your name.

Any other knock treat as the entreaty of a crook, a nuisance or just a general oul' ballocks.

Just turn up the volume of the Phil Silvers Show boxset you're watching and let them go run up the road on the end of their syphilitically reduced noses.

I reckon half the problems in this world could be solved if there was less door-opening and more TV volume increasement.

And don't get me started on the modern complusion for 'phone-answering.

[Sue]

Lawrence Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

. Aggressive selling to persons unable or

> unwilling to risk defending themselves is in fact

> theft.

xxxxxxxxx

No it isn't. It may be wrong and unpleasant, but I think you'll find it is not theft.

ETA: Your post above seems to imply that the theft is separate to any selling activity?

[Sue]

HonaloochieB Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> .

> Just turn up the volume of the Phil Silvers Show

> boxset you're watching

xxxxxxx

You been looking through my window? :))

[jimmy two times]

I had an aggressive dishcloth seller knock on my door yesterday. When I said no he completely lost his rag.

[Lawrence]

"Under the new ?Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008? (CPR?s) it is now a criminal offence to trade unfairly, mislead consumers or use aggressive selling techniques."

Ok, you are right it's an offence not theft, only the actual receipt of money for carrying out said offence constitutes theft.

Correct, my implication is that the towel selling lark is as much information gathering as anything else. Any theft would likely take place at a different time by another person. This is something that happens. I am not saying the lads you are thinking of are up to it, nor am I saying it is common but it's certainly not rare.

[Sue]

Lawrence Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> >

> Correct, my implication is that the towel selling

> lark is as much information gathering as anything

> else. Any theft would likely take place at a

> different time by another person. This is

> something that happens.

xxxxxxx

OK, let me ask you again. Your evidence for this statement is - what, exactly?

[Jeremy]

Why does it matter? If you don't agree with his assumption, just ignore it...

[bloonoo]

Well we had one of these guys knocking on our door, he was called Orlando apparently, he seemed perfectly pleasant. I told him his goods were a rip off and I could get them a lot cheaper from a Super market, we had a bit of banter, and he went on his way. No abuse for us!

[computedshorty]

Our Dog had passed away but his kennel still remains beside the front door, if an unknown person calls I open the door slightly with the dogs chain lead showing in my hand, knock the door with my knee, and say sorry the dog is trying to get at you! They leave quite quickly. You could put a Romany sign at your entrance giving warning of a dog. Or put a notice so.

Rikono

[sweetchicken]

The night before last a white boy about 19 years old came to my door at 8.30 (after nearly hammering it down) saying he had dishcloths to sell (I did not see any) and it struck me as suspicious that he did not show me any charity ID even though he said he was selling for charity (if it looks like it is a legit charity I normally buy something even though it is expensive)- anyway I said no and he was very persistent then increasingly aggressive and so I shut the door - he still carried on shouting even after I went upstairs to carry on putting the kids to bed. Anyway, last night I heard noise outside my door at 10pm and when I went out I found 2 of my planters had been deliberately emptied onto the ground. I don't know if these two incidents are connected - but I have reported it to the police just in case. I know they are minor incidents but just be aware when you open the door!

[HonaloochieB]

Coincidence?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article7040733.ece

[????]

There was an interesting documantary/film on this back in the 80s 'east end tales' or something featuring a group of knockers from East London, most of whom were well known West Ham hooligans