Many legitimate businesses sell products door-to-door (e,g, windows, solar panels, cleaning products, home maintenance, tree surgeons etc.)

There are also utility company staff who may visit to read meters. Charity collectors may knock on your door to ask for donations or may leave plastic bags for you to fill with clothes and shoes etc. and leave out for collection. Possibly many other door to door sales visitors can turn up.

However, some scammers also use the door-to-door approach, usually targeting elderly people.

They typically sell shoddy goods at inflated prices or promise services that they never deliver e.g. paving your driveway. Some try to gain entry to the person’s home in order to steal money or valuables.

Do remember:-

• Door-to-door sales people are uninvited and must leave if you ask them to.
• Door-to-door sales often involve selling goods or services that are not delivered or are very poor quality. It’s much better to buy from local trader s you know.
• Some scammers conduct surveys so they can obtain your personal details or disguise their intention to sell you something.
• Sometimes, the sales person may be selling a genuine product but is on commission so the more they can make you pay then the more money they get. This seems to be common with double glazing sales people.

If someone knocks at your front door claiming to be from a company always check their ID. If you are not happy then do not let them into your home.  If worried, then call the Police non-emergency number.

If you have any experiences with scammers, spammers or time-waster do let me know, by email.