This is probably yet more proof that I am paranoid

[ellid]

But when two people on foot are going about the neighborhood soliciting one's self and one's neighbors claiming to be "new contractors trying to drum up business," all my hackles rise. There was no car visible, the one who addressed me used my first name without permission, and they looked like a couple of twentysomething youngsters who'd never been outside in their lives. I was particularly wary since they were dealing with the elderly widow across the street, who is exactly the sort of person who is ripe for a scam.

I told them that I was not interested, went inside, and immediately reported them to the police. This is probably paranoia on my part, but I've heard (and seen) too many reports about "contractors" soliciting business door to door to let them anywhere near my property. Yes, my house needs work, and it will be done when Betty's estate settles. And it will be done by people who have a physical address and a clean record from the local BBB, not two guys walking around with clipboards.


EDIT: I swear I am not making this up...but while cleaning up some trash and old magazines in my bedroom, I found the September 2007 issue of Consumer Reports. And what did they have but an article on avoiding scams? And what was one of the tips they gave for avoiding fraudulent builders?

"Never hire a contractor who solicits business door to door."


Ha!

Comments

[mnemosyne-1.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I had something similar a few weeks ago, except it was a guy trying to see "high quality" steaks from the back of his truck. Um. I don't think so...

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Oh God. Someone ripped off my mother by selling "farm fresh vegetables" to her. Of course they were awful, and she used it as an opportunity to warn me against ever listening to anyone who showed up soliciting business door to door.

[stasia]

Nope, not paranoid. Just wise.

Can you check with the lady across the street to make sure she's not exposed anything to them (money, house, etc) that she shouldn't have?

And, make sure all of your doors/windows/access points are locked, okay?

Stasia

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Oh, they're all locked, with a burglar bar on the slider and dowels in the basement windows. I also specifically told the police that these people were talking to my elderly widowed neighbor. They promised to send a patrol car out to cruise the area around my street.

[stasia]

Good. I hope the cops find them and make them stay away.

Stasia

[orphandani.livejournal.com]

Good for you! I hope the cops caught up with them...

[tena524.livejournal.com]

Many many many moons ago, we used to get 20-somethings selling 'artwork' (or occasionally plastic storageware sets as a change of pace) door to door in various office buildings in Harvard Square. Shortly thereafter, we inevitably had a rash of small thefts (mostly wallets and/or cash lifted out of desk drawers in unlocked offices). This went on for most of the 15+ years I worked in the Square.

It eventurally led to the Univeristy wising up about locking all but the bottom exit doors on all interior stairs (so you could get into the stairwell from any floor but only get out at the bottom) and adding security guards at the main elevator at 75 JFK (financial administration). When I first worked in Purchasing (6th floor), you could go anywhere in the building but the bathrooms. The whole place was wide open, but there were combo locks on the bathrooms. Go figure. God forbid non-employees start using up the toilet paper.

When I was at WordsWorth, people were always knocking on the hallway doors up on the office floors. I can recall one such incident when we told the latest pair of artist (scam or otherwise) about our previous experience with their ilk. One of the pair got all huffy, particularly when we pointed out the 'no soliciting' sign on the accounting office door. Also stated she didn't know what 'soliciting' meant... Sure enough, the following week, wallets go missing. Shortly thereafter, , we finally installed combination locks to all the non-public parts of the store.

The moral of the story is, the 'sales call' may just be a scouting trip for nastiness. Keep your doors and windows locked.

And keep your attack cat's claws well sharpened.