Wrong wrote:
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. What Bull!They will do what the spindoctors, our gov. will tell them.You wait and see.

If 'John from the Government' yesterday was not enough, I had a chap representing AGL on the doorstep today - DESPITE THE FACT I AM ON THEIR DO NOT KNOCK list!

This time I asked which marketing firm employed/contracted him but he was too coy to respond. Guess that's a state secret.

As to the discussion about will Bill Scales/Commissioners act in the residents interests, that's to be seen but I don't believe that making this sort of social policy decision will be as fraught as it was under the competing factions of Labor with their intellectually limited candidates!

While I'm at it, perhaps they can also ban those catalogue sales people who drop off an uninvited and unwanted catalogue on your doorstep and expect you to keep it safe and well until they come back at their convenience. Or, you have to spend money calling some mobile to tell them to retrieve the catalogue or it will be put in the recycle bin. And, no, I have never bought anything from one of those cold drop catalogues!

I have to marvel at the different techniques used by energy/insulation marketers.

Yesterday I was introduced to the Speed Knocking technique. Two Indian chaps came up the path, rang the doorbell and knocked almost simultaneously and then walked out. I thought only Australia Post parcel delivery contractors used this technique. Now, if you'd think that marketeers who preyed on old and vulnerable people would allow a decent time for the person to reach the front door, this pair proved the opposite, and annoyed me even more. Just once, vengeance would be divine!

Today, a different technique from the Indian-origin insulation marketeer - ignore the bell and just tap, tap, tap on the window until you get an answer.

Why neither marketer had the courtesy to close the gate that they had to open in order to enter my property, uninvited, is beyond me, and my disdain for these marketeers grows. And since they won't identify their employer, I can't even complain to them about this behaviour.

Pity help someone trying for a halloween treat tonight, doorknocks will be ignored!!

oh don't just tell them to go away tell them to f...k off and slam the door knocking on my door and having the hide to go as far as walking into my backyard while i was having lunch with a friend...and refusing to go when i said sorry i'm not interested 5 times and that's not the first time i've had to slam the door on the pushy pr...s door knocking will be delegalised if i have to make it my life time vendetta and don't worry ombudsman has already received my complaint

(this post has been edited by request)

willow wrote:
oh don't just tell them to go away tell them to f...k off and slam the door knocking on my door and having the hide to go as far as walking into my backyard while i was having lunch with a friend...and refusing to go when i said sorry i'm not interested 5 times and that's not the first time i've had to slam the door on the pushy pr...s door knocking will be delegalised if i have to make it my life time vendetta and don't worry ombudsman has already received my complaint

I am just as frustrated about these door knockers as anyone, but their ethnicity has nothing to do with the problem and they are not all from one country of origin anyway.

This area has unemployment rates way above the national average and its worse still for youth and students, so these young men and women are most likely getting the only jobs they can find.

Please focus on the issue. Racist comments will not be tolerated on this forum.

A complaint to the moderators will see racist posts deleted.

While I sympathise with the frustrations expressed by willow, the point needs to be made that these young people are victims as much as they make us victims with the doorknock campaigns they undertake to (hopefully) make a dollar and, to that end, the ethnicity is significant.

Given the 100% Indian subcontinental ethnicity, the marketing company either has Indian principals or a policy to employ/contract ONLY people struggling to make ends meet on student visas (you know, the ones where the people come to Australia to study a course that gives them permanent residency and allows them and then their families to migrate here.)

It is also relevant to the situation that in all probability this group is being financial shafted - working for commission sales only, as subcontractors. Which makes each individual doorknocker more desparate to convince a poorly informed customer to 'switch' power companies or take up the insulation offer.

The fact the outcome of their work is to incite a boiling rage in moderate Australians, added to their high profile as victims of crime needs to be faced and not concealed by political correctness.

Pulling all the threads together, we have an emerging social problem that is often a police matter. And the reason,
a failure of government policy in managing the speed of the immigration intake, managing the VET for immigration sector, failing to police phoenix trading companies, failing to police slumlords, failing to police housing adequacy and, from what I see of this group of doorknockers failing to police fair pay and tax laws.

Whilst I disagree with cursing people on the basis of their ethnicity, don't gag the debate and let the damned governments off the hook. Social policy advisors galore can tell you that the migration intakes causes social disruption and the SPEED of these even more so, this is an unfolding example.

Everyone is a loser on these policy settings and these policy inactions.

Another reason not to answer your door to these people.

take note.
http://springvale-dandenong-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/insulation-fire-warning-issued/

South Eastern Metropolitan federal Liberal MP Gordon Rich-Phillips has warned that dodgy tradespeople were using the Federal Government’s insulation funding to prey on unsuspecting residents.

Last month the program sparked concerns after nine Melbourne house fires were linked to poorly installed insulation.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/action-urged-on-do-not-call-list-20100127-myy7.html

MILLIONS of households risk being flooded by telemarketing calls as their numbers drop off the Do Not Call Register, a consumer group has warned.

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network has urged the Federal Government to allow people to remain on the list permanently rather than having to apply every three years.

I think all the energy company hawkers are on holidays because after the blitz last year, I haven't had one.

The government should be listening to the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network and allow people to be permanently on the do-not-call list.

I have a silent number and I am still appalled by the high volume of digit dialling companies - some repeats - that call and are severely rebuked for their audacity in ringing a silent number. I can't imagine how awful it is to have any more than the foolhardy who currently ring me.

Just wondering if any other Sunshine residents got a knock on their door Saturday afternoon to complete a survey on Brimbank Council and rate the services they provide and voice other concerns?

No, no doorknockers on Brimbank Council, they usually just phone, even if you have an unlisted number.

But, surprise of surprises last Friday, after two years of being annoyed by them a few times a week, I had my first ever NON-INDIAN doorknocker trying to sell me insulation. I was nearly blown away.

A locally reared boy? Well, no, judging from the accent a British backpacker! Or, Brit doing a migration rated VET course! At least he took no for an answer without trying.

What sort of questions was the Brimbank surveyor asking?

Everything! I was asked questions about garbage collection, safety on streets, public transport, park maintenance, etc. I had to rate their services from 0-10. I also had to give my 3 main concerns for the area. I said the poor planning of these social housing developments (rsl and 3 towers), lack of parks/ pathetic playgrounds and safety issues. Hope they actually do something with the data they collect!

Katie wrote:
Everything! I was asked questions about garbage collection, safety on streets, public transport, park maintenance, etc. I had to rate their services from 0-10. I also had to give my 3 main concerns for the area. I said the poor planning of these social housing developments (rsl and 3 towers), lack of parks/ pathetic playgrounds and safety issues. Hope they actually do something with the data they collect! That is really comprehensive. I've never known a Council sponsored survey to include law and order, safety in the street issues before. I can remember every Councillor since BCC was brought into being telling me that public transport was a matter for the State government and they were powerless to do anything. Despite the fact that most of those Councillors worked for or had close ties to Labor Government MPs!!

I am seriously impressed. I hope that lots of other people have the same issues to raise.

DO NOT KNOCK sticker are available !!!

If anyone would like a Do Not Knock Sticker to put on the front door you can request them from the Footscray Community Legal Centre on 9689 8444.

Here is some general information about door-to-door sales :

A door-to-door sales person may knock at your door and:
- try to sell you something
- ask you to change your gas and electricity company.

This might end up costing you a lot more money or be a scam. A scam is a trick to get money from you.

You do not have to:
- change your gas or electricity company
- sign a contract
- give out your personal information
- let the person into your home
- show the person your electricity or gas bill

You can:
- put the DO NOT KNOCK sticker on your door
- ask the salesperson to go away
- trake your time. Look at the prices and services offered by other companies
- ask for a copy of the contract
- get free advice before signing anything

IF YOU SIGN A CONTRACT YOU STILL HAVE A 10-DAY 'COOLING OFF' PERIOD. THIS MEANS YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR MIND AND STOP THE CONTRACT. DO NOT AGREE TO CHANGE TO THE CONTRACT OVER THE PHONE

GET ADVICE FIRST.

There are rules about sales people.

They can only visit between 9.00am and 8.00pm Monday to Friday and on Saturday between 9.00am and 5.00pm.

They can not visit on Sunday or public holidays.

If a sales person breaks this rule or ignores the DO NOT KNOCK sticker you can get their name, company, date and time of visit. Call your local legal centre and tell them about this.

WHERE CAN YOU GET HELP

Contact Footscray Community Legal Centre on 9689 8444 for free legal information and the DO NOT KNOCK STICKER.

You can also:
- get free legal information by calling Victoria Legal Aid on 9269 0120 or 1800 677 402
- find out more about door-to-door sales, contracts and debts at www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/doortodoor.htm
- contact the Energy and Water Ombudsman of Victoria on 1800 500 509 if you cannot work out your problems with your electricity, gas or water company.

MMC

Footscray Community Legal Centre

Footsaray Community Legal Centre wrote:
DO NOT KNOCK sticker are available !!!

If anyone would like a Do Not Knock Sticker to put on the front door you can request them from the Footscray Community Legal Centre on 9689 8444.

Here is some general information about door-to-door sales :

A door-to-door sales person may knock at your door and:
- try to sell you something
- ask you to change your gas and electricity company.

This might end up costing you a lot more money or be a scam. A scam is a trick to get money from you.

You do not have to:
- change your gas or electricity company
- sign a contract
- give out your personal information
- let the person into your home
- show the person your electricity or gas bill

You can:
- put the DO NOT KNOCK sticker on your door
- ask the salesperson to go away
- trake your time. Look at the prices and services offered by other companies
- ask for a copy of the contract
- get free advice before signing anything

IF YOU SIGN A CONTRACT YOU STILL HAVE A 10-DAY 'COOLING OFF' PERIOD. THIS MEANS YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR MIND AND STOP THE CONTRACT. DO NOT AGREE TO CHANGE TO THE CONTRACT OVER THE PHONE

GET ADVICE FIRST.

There are rules about sales people.

They can only visit between 9.00am and 8.00pm Monday to Friday and on Saturday between 9.00am and 5.00pm.

They can not visit on Sunday or public holidays.

If a sales person breaks this rule or ignores the DO NOT KNOCK sticker you can get their name, company, date and time of visit. Call your local legal centre and tell them about this.

WHERE CAN YOU GET HELP

Contact Footscray Community Legal Centre on 9689 8444 for free legal information and the DO NOT KNOCK STICKER.

You can also:
- get free legal information by calling Victoria Legal Aid on 9269 0120 or 1800 677 402
- find out more about door-to-door sales, contracts and debts at www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/doortodoor.htm
- contact the Energy and Water Ombudsman of Victoria on 1800 500 509 if you cannot work out your problems with your electricity, gas or water company.

MMC

Footscray Community Legal Centre Bravo! Thank you, this is as comprehensive as I've seen it, apart from the Choice Website! Of course, I recall being asked by more than one doorknocker to 'just sign this piece of paper, I'm not selling you anything!' No mention of contracts or such.

What about those wonderful people who drop an unsolicited catalogue on your doorstep and expect you to keep it safe for them until they call back at their convenience, hoping you want to buy from them? I'm happy to get unsolicited catalogues which become 'mine' to read or toss into the recycling bin as I see fit. I really, really resent having to 'look after' some unknown person's catalogue or worse, being put to the expense of ringing their mobile to demand they remove the catalogue before I toss it out.

Just when the volume of door-to-door hawkers had come down to a manageable 2 per week, I receive a robocall flogging insulation. The initial message is made to sound like a government announcement of some importance. When you press the appropriate buttons to get through to a 'real' person, it's a private insulation firm - Assured Insulation.

While I applaud the initiative I am absolutely annoyed that the robocall comes through to an unlisted and do not call number.

There is simply no peace or tranquility in Sunshine! If it's not electricity reps, its insulation reps; your letterbox is filled with insulation sales promotions and now the phone is also out of control.

I am having the same problem as you have.Telling them that i have installed insulation in my roof more then 20 years ago is not good enough for them.They whant me to take it out and put new ones in,saying mine is no good any more.what bull.I just hang up on them....

I had a little (Jockey sized) Indian chap refusing to leave my front door when i said i was busy and had a meeting to get to - which happened to be the truth this time - he was flogging power supplies. He would not leave, was speaking in broken English and speaking a mile a minute. When i asked him for a pamphlet so i could compare the price differences and actually try and understand what he was telling me he refused to disclose that information?! What the? I told to him to get off my property and tell his boss to provide information i could digest. The best way to describe this experience would be to compare him to those slimy little stall holders in Phuket, they refuse to take no for an answer!

Local wrote:
I had a little (Jockey sized) Indian chap refusing to leave my front door when i said i was busy and had a meeting to get to - which happened to be the truth this time - he was flogging power supplies. He would not leave, was speaking in broken English and speaking a mile a minute. When i asked him for a pamphlet so i could compare the price differences and actually try and understand what he was telling me he refused to disclose that information?! What the? I told to him to get off my property and tell his boss to provide information i could digest. The best way to describe this experience would be to compare him to those slimy little stall holders in Phuket, they refuse to take no for an answer!If you have a dog,why do you do the barking