No Cold-Calling & Flyer Zones

It seems that a lot of window cleaners are having trouble with door to door knocking of late in the UK. Groups set up by Community wardens or managers, Parish Councils, Housing agencies, Tenants’ associations, Age Concern/Help the Aged, Social Services, Home Improvement Agencies (accessed through local councils), Citizens Advice Bureaus & Faith organisations. Even back in 2003, a complete ban was requested but denied. Almost all of those polled – 95.7 per cent – backed a ban. Some 15,000 people a year complain about doorstep sellers and their often high-pressure tactics. Under a separate scheme householders can avoid the nuisance of cold telephone calls and junk mail by signing up to a list of addresses companies are prohibited from contacting.

The purpose of ‘No Cold Calling’ zones (NCCZs) is to discourage cold callers from specific residential areas, usually a street or small cluster of houses. The introduction of the scheme provides householders with the opportunity to collectively discourage the often-unwelcome practice of cold calling. The zones are visibly identified by overt signs and by each participant displaying a sticker on their door. The ‘No Cold Calling’ zones are designed to discourage rogue traders who, for example, tell householders work needs doing to their property and then charge exorbitant prices or who try to trick their way into the house to commit a burglary. It is a voluntary scheme which relies on residents of the area to say no to Cold Callers and to report them to Trading Standards or the Police. The zone is there to give a message to callers that they are not wanted in that area and that people in the area will not do business with them so there is no point in them calling! Is it time to buy a canvassing licence?

REMEMBER it is not illegal to cold call. The zone is a message to callers that they are not wanted and that you will not do business with them. However, if residents in the zone then encourage callers this will send out the wrong message and the zone will not work.

In the United States, flyers are generally illegal when put in mail boxes according to Section 1725 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code -prohibits placing mailable materials like circulars and sales bills with unpaid postage in mailboxes with intent to avoid payment of postage. Do-Not-Call List Revives Door-to-Door Sales: While telemarketers have been banned from calling consumers who added their names to Do Not Call Registry, don't expect them to leave consumers alone. Having had one channel of communication essentially shut off, many marketers will simply shift to other methods of reaching consumers. Some marketers are now experimenting with the old, door-to-door approach to marketing and sales. Door-to-door sales used to very popular and prominent in the 50's and 60's but died out almost altogether. Though with the jaded, "seen it all" mentality of the current American culture, there will certainly be a lot of doors slammed and "Solicitors Not Welcome" signs hung if this tactic becomes popular.

Perhaps its time for a different type of buying/selling approach...enjoy.