I know. The subject line gives away my age, doesn't it?I hate solicitors. I may have been the first person in America to sign up for the "Do Not Call" registry. My town also has a "Do Not Knock" registry, of which my name is near the top of the list. I also have a "NO SOLICITING" sign posted prominently on my front door.
None of it works. I still have banks and charities calling me every day, because I guess there are exceptions to the "Do Not Call" rules. Like if you are already their customer. Whatever!
But the nerve to go up to someone's door and blatantly ignore their sign? That has pushed me over the edge............
Yesterday, some guy from a major telecommunications company knocked on my door. I pointed to my sign and told him I was busy. He responded with an "Awesome! I'll be in the neighborhood till 7 pm, so I'll come back, blah, blah, blah." I had shut the door and walked away. I thought I had managed to scare him away, because he didn't return.
I was wrong. TWO different guys showed up on my front porch today, both from this same major telecommunications company, trying to sell me their new cable/phone/internet service. I pointed out my BIG WHITE NO SOLICITING SIGN and said, "This is a NO SOLICITING house." To which the dude responded with, "Awesome! We're in the area to tell you about our new lines......" I interrupted him and told him once again that I do not accept solicitors. He ignored this and continued on with his memorized speech while I slammed my front door.
Did I mention I suffer from holiday stress? Well, I do. So I called the mayor's office to let them know that their ordinances were being broken right and left on my street. The secretary connected me to the police department, they took down my information, and the next thing I know, a kindly policeman is knocking on my front door. Apparently, you can be arrested for breaking an ordinance in our little burg! After giving him a description of the perpetrators, he left in the squad car to hunt them down.
From the window, I could see that the officer caught up with them. I was too far away to see if actual handcuffs were used. But I feel better now.
My kids, however, are highly embarrassed. I'm now that old lady who calls the cops.
Ha ha ha! Good for you! I HATE people knocking on my door and trying to seel me anything - magazine subscription, their religion, whatever. And you know what else I hate? People who come up to your car window with their collection buckets when you are trapped by a red light. Gah!
ReplyDeleteGet down with your bad self! I can't even get a cop to tool over to my cul de sac to notify my neighbors of the multitude of sins they're committing with the way they park just one car!
ReplyDeleteSolicitors make me freak, and living in a split level house, where there's no sure way of not letting them see me from the front door sucks. I've pretended to be deaf before when they've rang the doorbell!
Gitmo is too good for them. Way to go Cocette!
ReplyDeleteYou just became my hero! I usually just answer the door while holding Nala in my arms (she is usually snarling and baring her teeth). This usually gets them to leave and not come back.
ReplyDelete"Awesome!"
ReplyDeleteThere's this guy who pranks solicitors on the phone while recording it. He's on youtube; search for Tom Mabe. Funny, funny stuff.
You rock!
ReplyDeleteYet another reason why I love living in the country. No solicitors!
You are awesome!! Just say no to solicitors!
ReplyDeleteAnd you can sit with me in the "old ladies who call cops" section. I recently blogged about calling the cops when pranksters set bagged up leaves out in the street.
Awesome, Cocotte!
ReplyDeleteWe don't get so many door-to-door types in our 'hood. Maybe the occasional JW or Mormon, or replacement-window salesman. One time we got a guy running an auto-glass biz from the back of his van. . .
But I am about ready to fire-bomb the next phone solicitor who calls our house. We thought we had end-run them when we got an answering machine with caller ID (if it ain't someone we recognize, or at least a 'cellular call', we don't pick up). But now they set their robo-call machines to stay on the line and give you a dial-tone recording on your machine. . .
Might I interest you in some Amway products?
ReplyDeleteThere are police cars on our street fairly regularly. We're big on the whole "meth and domestic violence" thing.
Power to the people!!! You are my idol!
ReplyDeleteWOW peeps - I was so thrilled to come home and see all these accolades from you fine folks. Especially after hearing all day, "Mom, they were just trying to do their job!"
ReplyDeleteCitizen - The collection bucket thing freaks me out! This is why I live in the 'burbs.
FADKOG - My computer sits right in front of our two living room windows in the front of the house. They can see me sitting here when they walk up the driveway. It does suck.
Trooper - Thank you for your kindness.
Russ - We are a pet-free household, except for the fish, which aren't scary in the least.
Flutter - LOL! I know - the pre-programmed use of "Awesome" was killing me. Is the youtube guy the one who acts as though the solicitor is calling the scene of a crime and he starts questioning their involvement? That's good stuff.
Mama - I can see how having a lot of space between houses would prohibit solicitation.
Trueself - I will have to look up your post on that. You might as well call the cops and give them something to do besides write up traffic tickets.
ReplyDeleteDesmond - I get those dial-tone calls ALL THE TIME too! Drives me insane.
FTN - I will look for your house on the next episode of "Cops."
Jody - Thank you, thank you very much.
Maybe the word solicitors is too big of a word for them to understand.
ReplyDeleteWho Am I - I think you're on to something! Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling a bit my age too! Good for you!
ReplyDeleteLOL, slammed the door in his face, lol
ReplyDeleteWhenever the doorbell rings at my house, I know it's somebody hawking magazines or some such shit cuz otherwise, nobody uses that door. LOL!
Get 'em, girl! =)
Mariah - At least you don't look your age!
ReplyDeleteLB - I'm very good at slamming doors, just as Husband!!