We had our complimentary visit last night from "adt". They didn't really explain what they were doing and then suddenly said "so, shoes on or shoes off?". If they are legit, they are very badly trained, given how suspicious it sounds.

I've heard of foot-in-the-door sales tactics but that's ridiculous!!

We had a visit too, blonde girl with black guy stood next to her, she did the talking, it was Weds night. I was harassed as dealing with several kid's 'emergencies' (loo!) simultaneously so I just said absolutely not a good time and no please don't come back. I didn't give them a chance to try anything more but would have told them not to bother if they had tried to get inside.

The shoes comment is outrageous and really quite intimidating in it's presumptuous-ness level!

The blonde young woman works her way up and down Blythe Hill obviously. She showed up at our place some mins ago - by herself. Thanks to the forum, I was alert. She tried the same trick on me "so shall I just take my shoes off?" I told her the neighborhood has been warned about people like her, whereas her reply was if I really thought she looked like such a person to be warned about and that she's working together with the police. Ah... right!! Really annoying and interesting that she feels actually comfortable in keeping trying. How many people did let her/them actually in I wonder? Only had the idea after she left but could the next 'victim' please take a picture of her. She shouldn't mind as it's all official.

We had such a "security consultant" knock on our door on Montem Road at 6pm tonight. I immediately said I didn't have time to talk as I needed to feed the baby, but then I wished I'd questioned him further as it seemed very suspicious.

Just had two very bolshy sales reps from 'ADT Security' insisting on being let in. Ordered me through the entry phone "we're from ADT security can you let us in please" I said no, as they hadn't made an appointment, but unfortunately another neighbour buzzed them in. They then proceeded to knock on every door in the block. Once they came to my door and I asked them to leave, and I was shouted at by the rep for being rude. I find it ironic that a rep for a very well known security brand might be surprised when challenged about the way they forced themselves into our building. There are ways and means of speaking to members of the public and demanding to be let in, is not one of them! Watch out for these two, as they're doing the rounds!

http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/...?5,1232380

seems they are going up-market and trying their luck in Forest Hill....

They are from ADT, and we're carrying ID. Please stop this ridiculous scaremongering.

So what do they want? If I have no relationship with ADT, why should I let a cold caller in my house? Especially one that presumes/bullies their way in. Pretty poor show from a big company that should know better....or it is a fraud. Know which one I'm leaning towards.

ADT have confirmed that they send round cold callers to drum up business. Remember how energy providers did that until they were banned from doing so? If the caller behaved in a way that was intimidating and pushy to the point of bullying, it would be a good idea to let ADT know.

We had the ADT guys visit and were impressed with their politeness and knowledge. We had invited them to come back to our home at 18:30 as we had been meaning to get a security system for some time. A friend was recently burgled and then bought her security system where as we thought we should get ours installed before we get burgled. Unfortunately a fact of life living in London these days. If you don't have a security system you do open yourself up to attack and the ADT people are likely to be able to give you such figures if you require them. Obviously everyone's experience is different but at the end of the day these people are doing their job. It's not a job that I would like and they deserve a bit of human decency. If you aren't interested then say so and don't let them in. If you aren't interest and don't already have a security system then more fool you. We had a call from the manager (standard practice) the day after the visit to make sure nothing untoward had happened so they take bad sales behaviour seriously.

Would Bcm and tinyem like to declare a common interest?

Yes. Although I don't see what difference it makes. I am my own person and able to voice my own opinions which may differ from my husband, bcm, but not in this instance. I just felt the thread needed a bit more of a balanced opinion. The ADT guys signed a few people the night we saw them so not everyone shares the views of the majority of this thread. Plus, people are all too quick to jump on bad publicity, generally people don't voice when they have a good experience. I doubt there would have been a thread promoting the ADT guys for example. PS as auto-correct did horrible things to the grammar in bcm's post I felt a positive post with better grammar was required.

Why would you buy anything off anyone who knocks on your door, especially if they are rude.

Tell them no thanks and shut the door.

If you want to buy a security system, which I imagine is a significant investment, do some research and approach reputable companies yourself.

very annoying and persistent... I wonder if anyone in Trilby Rd/Vestris Rd has said a Yes Please!! Like we were told, through the letter box as the door was closing.

I had them round a few weeks ago and yes, like many people here I found them rude and pushy. I don't do rude and pushy so I said a firm 'no thanks' and close the door.

The thing with most of these cold callers is they haven't a clue. They rock up on your doorstep and instead of properly introducing themselves and flashing their ID, their first words are 'How are you?'!

It's a legitimite way of selling. Shut the door. Or don't open it.

My usual way of dealing with people like this - but only if it is something I'm possibly interested in, such as cheaper energy - is to say, "I can't right now but do you have anything you can leave me to read so I can do some research and make some comparisons?"

Actually, I just said 'No thanks' when ADT came round so I don't know what their response would be. But back in the day the energy reps were all unable to leave any details about their prices or tariffs. It had to be discussed then and there or else I would miss out on the opportunity to save £££. Funny, that...

Obviously it sounds like everyone on SE23.com is capable of looking after themselves, but it's the naïve folks who are more easily intimidated that I worry about most. They could end up being talked into buying an over-specced, over-priced system.

We had an ADT lady at the door, she was polite enough although definitely pushy. Before I had said anything she was practically in the door taking her shoes off! She kept asking if she could call again later until I said quite firmly that I was in the middle of cooking my children's dinner, my washing machine had just broken, and it was generally a very inconvenient time. She quickly left.

I would just never buy anything off a cold caller. I generally find cold callers very annoying because it always seems to be at tea time or my children's bedtime. I am not a rude person so I try and be polite but they just don't seem to take the answer 'I am feeding my children/getting them ready for bed' seriously. "Just 5 minutes of your time" they say, like I can just leave the kids waiting for me in their pyjamas for their bedtime story...
And lastly, why would I invite a stranger into my house? Even if they do have a badge, it could easily have been mocked up.

So I can understand why people do resort to being rude - I know they are just doing a job but they often just don't take no for an answer.

I think the thing with cold callers is to give them absolutely no leverage at all or a handle they can then manipulate, so I always say as politely as I can "my security/roofing/guttering/broadband is none of your business I'm afraid". It's possible to say this courteously and with a smile but firmly. I think it's a mistake to say "it's a bad time" because they'll then say "when is a good time?" Or to say you are cooking or dealing with kids, it's too much information to give them, give them a blank facade so they have nothing to work with. And then say 'thanks, bye' and close the door and don't engage further.

I agree with the thoughts expressed that able and mentally alert residents can handle themselves with cold callers but there are many vulnerable people who can't. Whilst technically not illegal there is still such a thing as best practice, and this practice certainly falls short of that.