Vent: Door To Door Sales People

[Kas_Can_Fly]

Just had an overly rude and unpleasant interrogation from a thuggish looking door to door sales person and his female companion. The pair of them knocked at the door and I don't know what they were selling or why - and how on earth they thought that this was an appropriate sales , all I know is now I feel anxious, sick (though my dog thinks me suddenly giving him my lunch is fantastic) and horribly shaken. This was the dialogue exactly:

Q: Are you the home owner?
A: (Shook my head no)
Q: Is the home owner in?
A: (Shook my head no)
Q: Are you the tenant?
A: (Shook my head no)
Q: Is this property rented?
A: (Shook my head no)
Q: Are you the burglar?
A: No.
Q: Are you the arsehole?
A: NO and you can F*** Off.

And this is why I don’t answer the door.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

I was practically hidden behind the door through fear of answering the door in the first place (I never usually do, but my mum is in bed, unwell), and as I was wearing a t-shirt I had a lot of very bad self-harm on show though mostly hidden by the door as I was standing mostly behind it. I just don't understand why they were so unpleasant. Also the man really, really looked like the worst of my abusers. I just feel very unsettled and sick. :(

 

[just keep swimming]

I would call my local police station, and inform them of your experience. Do not call 999 I would also be doing deep breaths from my tummy to aid kicking out some extra and unwanted stress. These people are not allowed to behave in this way. If you are too scared to report it, that is understandable also.

What were you doing today? before they knocked. Have you forgotten from the shock?? Do something nice for yourself, make a hot drink. phone someone or if you can't maybe go out for a walk.

I hope I'm any help, I was once a door to door salesman and I did not ever behave in that manner, disgusting and their are many laws against it.

Get yourself a sticker on front door.. NO SALES OR CANVASSERS

Regards, a surviver

 

[ashdawn8287]

What the hell! I would have done the same thing!

Make sure your doors are locked and windows. And yes, yes get a sign!

 

[Tanishq]

That was a rude way to behave like that. You can call the police if they pose any danger to you.

 

[squireparty]

I happen to speak somewhat fluent German. Some months back I answered the door (something I am usually loathe to do) to find a middle aged man and woman carrying bibles and before they could say anything I started speaking in German. That got rid of them fairly fast.

Seriously, though, I have a thing about answering the door and usually I figure if it's important, I'll end out hearing about whatever it is anyway.

And as to the phone - the expression to screen your calls was made for me I think, lol. People who know me know that usually when they call I'm not going to pick up unless it is some kind of emergency situation I already know about. Many have been the days that the idea of answering the door or picking up a ringing phone seemed to be too much to me to even contemplate.

 

[Lucycat]

A couple of years ago I had some bible carrying people knock at the door. As I was expecting a friend round I had opened it before I realised my mistake. Their opening words were 'do you know why some people do evil things?' I burst into tears and froze. Fortunately Rory came up behind me and simply closed the door on them. They must have thought I was completely mad, but when they have been in the village since they have never knocked on my door again.

 

[Kintsugi]

I know this is kind of silly-sounding, and it involves talking more than it seems you were up to (by the way they were totally out of line and whoever they work for would fire them I'd say), but if someone comes to the door I don't want to speak to and they are not LDS Mormons (we don't have any where I lived), I just listen to what they have to say until they pause and then say, "That's super! But I have something for you first. I want to share a special book with you from a wonderful prophet, Joseph Smith! It's called the Book of Mormon!"

People will run. 'Specially Jehovah's Witnesses. It honestly is more effective than posing as a Satanist. And they won't come back.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

Unfortunately I've not been not doing great and for the last year or so I've been back living with my mother (and sisters) by necessity. I completely understand that squire, for many year's I've never answered the door, I never answer the phone, I never leave the house alone and even then very rarely - though more since I've started therapy (So Swimming, as you see a walk is out of the question, but I'm calming down).

My mum works from home though today she was not working, and my sisters were at college. So I answered thinking it would be one of them coming back because she was very unwell. It's just unfortunate as it reinforces part of my fears of never leaving the house because outside people are not safe, unreliable and not to be trusted and of course the more upfront issue of the anxiety which I know will repeat on me for some time to come - especially before sleep.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

Thank you all for your advice and thoughts though. It's nice to not feel so alone in being so upset/affected by this, I was quite sure I was being overly sensitive before.

 

[blackemerald1]

I have had two unpleasant experiences with door knockers, one I have already posted about.

My second experience involved a very shady male coming to the door and knocking. Fortunately I had a security door and it was locked. I answered the door without thinking and this guy starts on about some product, I interrupted him with a no thanks and please go away. He then tried to open the security door, ripping it literally off its hinges but he was having trouble with the door handle side. i
I locked my wooden door and called the Police. Within minutes fortunately the Police arrived. The guy ran off down the street but was caught. Turned out he was not selling anything. The Police think he had a "plan" but he never divulged it.

I never open doors now. I just thank God that the security door held him up. You can get ones that allow you to see out but them not to see in. For anyone with fear like this, it is a good investment.

 

[just keep swimming]

Really pleased to here your calming down. Well done and yes I did think a walk was a bad idea once I sent it.

You take care kas_can_fly