I've had a few (indian) people, aggressively try and make me switch electricity.. i wish we had these stickers in sunshine too


http://www.starnewsgroup.com.au/story/77845


MARIBYRNONG City Council has vowed to stamp out unscrupulous door-to-door salespeople after a report found migrants were signing contracts they didn’t understand.

The council voted last week to send out Do Not Knock stickers to every household in the municipality in the next residents’ information pack due out in October.

The council will also write to all energy retailers and pay TV company Foxtel to request they abandon their aggressive door-to-door tactics.

Councillors wholeheartedly supported the motion at last week’s council meeting, with councillor Sel Sanli slamming door-to-door salespeople for treating residents like “idiots” with “an aggressive retail strategy that we’re not supportive of”.

Cr John Cumming said it was wrong for residents – regardless of whether they could speak English or not – to be bombarded by sales pitches in their own homes.

“If I want to change my supplier, I’ll change my supplier. If I want to get Foxtel, I’ll get it. I shouldn’t be bothered at home. People’s homes are a place of refuge from society. You have a right to choose who comes in your home, you shouldn’t have that right denied,” Cr Cumming said. “It’s wrong that our privacy is interrupted in this way.”

The move comes after Footscray Community Legal Centre (FCLC) released a report that found many door-to-door salespeople – including energy companies AGL, Origin, TRU Energy, Victoria Electricity and Red Energy – were getting African migrants and residents from other non-English speaking backgrounds to sign contracts they didn’t understand.

It also found that Footscray’s financial counsellors had difficulty acting on behalf of their clients because the utility companies did not answer phone messages, asked for information that was not needed to resolve the problem and took several weeks to reply to queries.

A second report by the FCLC detailed common issues faced by newly arrived residents and refugees.

The council has agreed to help the FCLC and the Department of Human Services work with new arrivals and refugee communities, particularly around Braybrook, Maidstone and Gordon St in Footscray.

“Obviously we’re delighted,” FCLC general manager Denis Nelthorpe said. “These doorknockers do not provide a useful public service, and at worst, prey upon people who don’t know how to protect their interests.”

The number of times I've had young men of Indian origin tell me lies and prevarications in order to 'not sell me anything' or enter my premises or view my other supplier energy bill is laughable but tragic for the innocent folk who can't get rid of them. How many times have I been told 'I'm from your electricity supplier' who they could not name when asked. How many times have I been told 'the government wants to check you're not paying too much' and the last time, with TWO young men on my doorstep - 'we don't want to sell you anything just sign a piece of paper'. Perhaps one chap was a trainee, or perhaps they needed reinforcements given that one of my sons answered them last time and was VERY rude when they tried to GAIN ENTRY and refused to take NO for an answer! At least AGL was able to put both my mothers and my address on a 'do not call' list. What about the rest?

The door-to-door hard sell that Optus adopted early in the piece is EXACTLY why I will never look at an Optus product.

Maribyrnong Council is doing more to protect its community. Brimbank, yeh, well, it's survival of the fittest, and that goes for the people they represent.

Let's not be racist. These people are trying to make a living like the rest of us. Some of them might be shifty, but most that I have encountered are the loveliest people. I'm just as annnoyed as anyone by having someone come to my door at night and try to sell me something. But there's plenty of dodgy people (from every walk of life and race) in every type of sales you can imagine. Just think of car salespeople. You don't have to be Indian to be dodgy. There's plenty of Aussies that have got it down to a fine art - and every other race for that matter.

Agreed. Its the not the person who comes to the door - its the unscrupulous company that sends them.

BRAVO MARIBYRNONG wrote:
The number of times I've had young men of Indian origin tell me lies and prevarications in order to 'not sell me anything' or enter my premises or view my other supplier energy bill is laughable but tragic for the innocent folk who can't get rid of them. How many times have I been told 'I'm from your electricity supplier' who they could not name when asked. How many times have I been told 'the government wants to check you're not paying too much' and the last time, with TWO young men on my doorstep - 'we don't want to sell you anything just sign a piece of paper'. Perhaps one chap was a trainee, or perhaps they needed reinforcements given that one of my sons answered them last time and was VERY rude when they tried to GAIN ENTRY and refused to take NO for an answer! At least AGL was able to put both my mothers and my address on a 'do not call' list. What about the rest?

The door-to-door hard sell that Optus adopted early in the piece is EXACTLY why I will never look at an Optus product.

Maribyrnong Council is doing more to protect its community. Brimbank, yeh, well, it's survival of the fittest, and that goes for the people they represent.

Had the same 'government wants to make sure you are not paying too much scam' in Essendon. So this indcates a high level of organisation amongst the doorknockers. An elderly neighbour was conned, she can ill afford to be. Anyone who would prey on someone this way is just disgusting, I don't care what nationality they are. AGL were good in dealing with the issue but I wonder if they realise what damage is being done to their reputation. Frankly, I am sick to death with all of the cons, the scams, sick of being invaded on the phone and at my front door. The agencies that regulate seem to be overwhelmed with issues and most of the companies could not give a rats arse about their reputations or the penalties if their are any for the bad behaviour. Yeah, deregulation and privatisation is just great..............NOT!! Customers come last and big business rules.

I would have more sympathy for the young men who come to my door if they did not lie to me so transparently and refuse to take 'no' for an answer from my elderly, non-english speaking parent.

It seems that Indian students studying 'guaranteed' permanent residency courses are fodder for a lot more than tricky fly-by-night colleges and slumlords. The colleges and immigration agents need to find work for their victims to pay off those big loans and course fees with Australian earnings.

My dealings with AGL in getting the unwanted 'switch' reversed, also involved contacting a marketing company in FernTree Gully.

My guess is that this direct marketing company, probably employs Indian students on 'usury', 'slave' or commission only pay. I daresay, that like the fly-by-night colleges some shifty operators have set up the 'marketing company' could be a great vehicle to scam even more money from wannabe Aussie citizens. Let's face it, every single person trying to sell me an electricity swap (fortnightly on average) in the last two years has been of Indian origin and most with the annoying impediment of being incapable of reshutting the gate they opened to come onto my property. Having vented my spleen at being annoyed by the victims, I can see quite clearly that this single ethnic group is being exploited. And, for this reason alone, it is essential to identify the group in order to stir complacent authorities into enforcing fair play.

The colleges, immigration agents and 'convenient' nasty jobs have managed to trash Australia's reputation.

I think the power companies are irresponsible in failing to do surveys on this marketing choice, surely the reverse workflows they generate should be telling them something.

Promotions outsourced wrote:
I would have more sympathy for the young men who come to my door if they did not lie to me so transparently and refuse to take 'no' for an answer from my elderly, non-english speaking parent.

It seems that Indian students studying 'guaranteed' permanent residency courses are fodder for a lot more than tricky fly-by-night colleges and slumlords. The colleges and immigration agents need to find work for their victims to pay off those big loans and course fees with Australian earnings.

My dealings with AGL in getting the unwanted 'switch' reversed, also involved contacting a marketing company in FernTree Gully.

My guess is that this direct marketing company, probably employs Indian students on 'usury', 'slave' or commission only pay. I daresay, that like the fly-by-night colleges some shifty operators have set up the 'marketing company' could be a great vehicle to scam even more money from wannabe Aussie citizens. Let's face it, every single person trying to sell me an electricity swap (fortnightly on average) in the last two years has been of Indian origin and most with the annoying impediment of being incapable of reshutting the gate they opened to come onto my property. Having vented my spleen at being annoyed by the victims, I can see quite clearly that this single ethnic group is being exploited. And, for this reason alone, it is essential to identify the group in order to stir complacent authorities into enforcing fair play.

The colleges, immigration agents and 'convenient' nasty jobs have managed to trash Australia's reputation.

I think the power companies are irresponsible in failing to do surveys on this marketing choice, surely the reverse workflows they generate should be telling them something.

You would be surprised, it is a percentage game. I worked for a large telco in sales. They utilised 'contractors' to doorknock, and you are right it is purely commission based. The doorknockers would churn customers in the most dishonest of ways and we would get lots of complaint and call backs, we always knew when the doorknockers were active. However only a small percentage of customers really know they have been conned so the percentage of churn back and complaint is quite low, it is still worth it from a dollars point of view for companies to engage in this. Think about the complaints preocedure-a customer that has been conned cannot recover any losses or get any real satisfaction, it is all inconvenience for a complaining customer. They have to go the company they are complaining about first, they will generally resolve the issue pretty quickly so you do not escalate the issue. If the laws allowed for immdediate penalty against the company initiating or turning a blind eye to the con, it would quickly stop. Or if the 'contracting companies' had to pay a minimum wage the con would stop. The really big issue here in light of the Global Financial Crisis is DEREGULATION, PRIVATISATION & COMPETITION POLICY!! When you think about all of these issues that are facing communities: the current issues with private education providers, poor quality public transport, the crisis in health care, the ABC Childcare scandal, poor quality aged care I could go on and on all of these sectors and many more are 'deregulated' these industries have largely been left to regulate themselves (what a joke) we have a complaints sytem in place through Ombudsman it is a most unsatisfactory system that depends on the wronged party (like victims of doorknockers) to run the gauntlet of making a complaint. I reckon this year has been the worst I have had a year of issues with various providers and have made about half a dozen complaints, it is time consuming and for those more vulnerable almost impossible. If everyone who was victimised by an offending industry made a complaint those agencies (which taxpayers pay for) that deal with complaints could probably soak up all of the unemployed as they would need thousands to handle the complaints. Deregulation on its own has shifted costs from offending businesses to customers. Competition has turned once good honest industries into nasty, dirty, grubby industries that will do anything for a buck and we all pay. For every scandal, disaster, grubby business deal you will find deregulation at the start of it. Is it working for consumers NO!!

After a lull of nearly a month, they're back in Monash St again. At 7:45 last night a young man of Indian origins- OK my guess is he was Nepali - came to my door to 'not sell me anything' and told me he was from my 'electricity and gas provider' but again could not name either of my suppliers. I barely let him get to the 'Tru energy' is the supplier for all gas and electricity in this region and the other companies are just the 'billing companies'. I'll give him points for trying and he left when asked to do so and shut the gate behind him - as instructed.

Will Brimbank ever become as enlightened as Maribyrnong?????

Brimbank's links to Labor will probably prevent it from ever banning door knockers.

I suppose the next thing will be door knockers from former Labor MLC Evan Thornley's Better Place Australia flogging contracts for additional 'energy points'in your home for car recharging your electric car. Cars also available.

Hope they don't use the same doorknockers!!

Brimbank's links to Labor will probably prevent it from ever banning door knockers.

Give it a rest. You have to try and bring politics into it, don't you? Unbelieveable.

it was a tongue in cheek comment, Gullible Gary.

I'm from Sydney and this is a growing problem in my council also. Last Friday night I actually told the man from Telstra that I was sick of his company knocking on my door and we weren't interested and shut the door in his face. My concern is also that somebody tried to break into my home 4 weeks ago and how I do I know if door knockers are legitimate, they don't wear formal ID

Clair wrote:
I'm from Sydney and this is a growing problem in my council also. Last Friday night I actually told the man from Telstra that I was sick of his company knocking on my door and we weren't interested and shut the door in his face. My concern is also that somebody tried to break into my home 4 weeks ago and how I do I know if door knockers are legitimate, they don't wear formal ID

Even if they have formal ID how do you know it is legit?

My son and his friends have made their own ID to get into pubs. Of course I destroyed his when I found out about it.

What I couldn't understand was how he and his friends were able to get by using the fake ID's. He said nobody cared and nobody checked.

How do you go about checking door knockers ID ........"ahh excuse me ....please wait while I call your organisation to check your ID ....." meanwhile you are put on hold for an hour waiting to get past 'press 1 for or press 2 for ....."

The door knockers I have had over the past six years in Sunshine .......I have to tell you I really really feel sorry for. Some are working at 7.00 8.00 and 9.00 pm at night. Some are Indian some have been unaccompanied women, one such women I remember last year, last winter came around when it was dark, I remember remarking to my husband 'do you think she will be alright?".

You feel like you need to take these people in and take care of them. How can their employers send them out at these hours and on their own with the local crime rate what it is.

Anyway it's a shit job and I feel really sorry for the desparate people who feel they have no other choice but take that job.

I blame the company they represent not them.

Yet I too have had to slam the door in their face telling them "I'm not interested" but to save a lengthy discussion just shut the door.

Perhpas the feelings they evoke in us, safe in our own warm or cool homes while they under financial duress are forced to tramp the streets door knocking, is what makes us feel the most repulsion not the sales attempt but more the fact we are forced to face an underclass of citizens the only job that they can find is trying to invade our 'home space'.

And Then? wrote:
Clair wrote:
I'm from Sydney and this is a growing problem in my council also. Last Friday night I actually told the man from Telstra that I was sick of his company knocking on my door and we weren't interested and shut the door in his face. My concern is also that somebody tried to break into my home 4 weeks ago and how I do I know if door knockers are legitimate, they don't wear formal ID

Even if they have formal ID how do you know it is legit?

My son and his friends have made their own ID to get into pubs. Of course I destroyed his when I found out about it.

What I couldn't understand was how he and his friends were able to get by using the fake ID's. He said nobody cared and nobody checked.

How do you go about checking door knockers ID ........"ahh excuse me ....please wait while I call your organisation to check your ID ....." meanwhile you are put on hold for an hour waiting to get past 'press 1 for or press 2 for ....."

The door knockers I have had over the past six years in Sunshine .......I have to tell you I really really feel sorry for. Some are working at 7.00 8.00 and 9.00 pm at night. Some are Indian some have been unaccompanied women, one such women I remember last year, last winter came around when it was dark, I remember remarking to my husband 'do you think she will be alright?".

You feel like you need to take these people in and take care of them. How can their employers send them out at these hours and on their own with the local crime rate what it is.

Anyway it's a shit job and I feel really sorry for the desparate people who feel they have no other choice but take that job.

I blame the company they represent not them.

Yet I too have had to slam the door in their face telling them "I'm not interested" but to save a lengthy discussion just shut the door.

Perhpas the feelings they evoke in us, safe in our own warm or cool homes while they under financial duress are forced to tramp the streets door knocking, is what makes us feel the most repulsion not the sales attempt but more the fact we are forced to face an underclass of citizens the only job that they can find is trying to invade our 'home space'.

I never open the door anymore after 6pm. I know when I am having visitors and friends know to ring me before hand. Very sad that this is how we have to live our lives because of the stupid multi-nationals who have nothing new or cheaper to offer anyway.

Well said wrote:
And Then? wrote:
Clair wrote:
I'm from Sydney and this is a growing problem in my council also. Last Friday night I actually told the man from Telstra that I was sick of his company knocking on my door and we weren't interested and shut the door in his face. My concern is also that somebody tried to break into my home 4 weeks ago and how I do I know if door knockers are legitimate, they don't wear formal ID

Even if they have formal ID how do you know it is legit?

My son and his friends have made their own ID to get into pubs. Of course I destroyed his when I found out about it.

What I couldn't understand was how he and his friends were able to get by using the fake ID's. He said nobody cared and nobody checked.

How do you go about checking door knockers ID ........"ahh excuse me ....please wait while I call your organisation to check your ID ....." meanwhile you are put on hold for an hour waiting to get past 'press 1 for or press 2 for ....."

The door knockers I have had over the past six years in Sunshine .......I have to tell you I really really feel sorry for. Some are working at 7.00 8.00 and 9.00 pm at night. Some are Indian some have been unaccompanied women, one such women I remember last year, last winter came around when it was dark, I remember remarking to my husband 'do you think she will be alright?".

You feel like you need to take these people in and take care of them. How can their employers send them out at these hours and on their own with the local crime rate what it is.

Anyway it's a shit job and I feel really sorry for the desparate people who feel they have no other choice but take that job.

I blame the company they represent not them.

Yet I too have had to slam the door in their face telling them "I'm not interested" but to save a lengthy discussion just shut the door.

Perhpas the feelings they evoke in us, safe in our own warm or cool homes while they under financial duress are forced to tramp the streets door knocking, is what makes us feel the most repulsion not the sales attempt but more the fact we are forced to face an underclass of citizens the only job that they can find is trying to invade our 'home space'.

I never open the door anymore after 6pm. I know when I am having visitors and friends know to ring me before hand. Very sad that this is how we have to live our lives because of the stupid multi-nationals who have nothing new or cheaper to offer anyway.

They are back in Strathmore only a few weeks after the last complaint to the Ombudsman. A young woman this time, no ID. She started the 'government checking because you are paying too much' bullshit line. She persisted after I told her I was not interested! Doorknocking and ringing (despite the Do Not Call Register) is just beyond a joke. I feel it is an invasion. It seems complaints just do not stop the problem. I am now over feeling sorry for them, how the hell can you stop this.

When the doorbell rang I thought my friend had arrived early and rushed to open. 'Hello, I'm John' a young man of Indian origin but with hardly a hint of any accent told me as he flashed his oversized namebadge at my security door, 'I'm from the government'. Then he launched into the patter about the government giving away free insulation.

Perhaps I was a bit short with him but, when I said I already had insulation, he seemed perplexed. His sales script clearly did not support this response. 'But it's free!' He continued after a moment as though there was something wrong with me and he could still salvage a sale, why didn't I immediately demand that if it's free I want double?

Quite rudely, I then shouted 'Didn't you hear me say I already had insulation. Good bye!'

I could have been kinder, I know. I would have been if:
a) he honestly told me which installation company he represented
b) did not lie to my face that he was from the government
c) had not arrived around the time my friend was due

While I FULLY support for the government's home insulation strategy, this expample of its practical implementation is tainted with the lies, misrepresentation and apparent fraud of the marketing agency that is going door to door.

Will Bill Scales protect Brimbank residents by introducing a local law for Brimbank BANNING energy company sales reps from going door to door????

I had Optus on my doorstep the other day.

Told them go away.

Had to drag myself off the couch too - not happy about that.

When will you understand Bill Scales doesn't give a shit about Brimbank, and nor will the three commissioners when they start, just think how much we will be paying them out of our rates about $800,000 a year, do you think they will care who nocks on your door

they will care alot more than the previous council

reality wrote:
they will care alot more than the previous council

They might not care more but they are more accountable to ratepayers and the community for their decisions unlike the elected councillors.