Don’t come knocking: Croydon resident Cheryl Moulton with the special ‘Do Not Knock’ stickers.Picture: Ted Kloszynski
DON'T bother knocking — that's message to salespeople from Maroondah residents.
People across the city are taking up the 'do not knock' stickers in droves. Placed on doors, gates or letterboxes, the stickers are designed to stop unwanted salespeople from doorknocking.
Croydon resident Cheryl Moulton searched online and obtained stickers for all 33 units at the Tarralla Retirement Village where she lives as she believes the elderly and vulnerable are being preyed upon.
She said doorknockers had mainly been from power companies urging residents to switch providers. "You are always seeing on TV or hearing on the radio about some woman who was pressured into changing power companies, or dodgy builders offering to fix someone's roof and then taking them for a ride."
Mrs Moulton believes the stickers work but that a do-not-knock register is needed. "They [the salespeople] are not always listening and they often argue back. "
Last week, a bill to create such a register was knocked back by Federal Parliament after a House of Representatives committee said the cost of creating the register would be too expensive.
"The government is trying to get elderly people to stay at home for longer instead of being in nursing homes and this is a way they can make things safer for these people," Mrs Moulton said.
"I am only 63 but I know my family would be happier knowing that register was in place. There are all sorts of nasty people out there who target the vulnerable.
"The do-not-call register does work. The do-not-knock stickers do work too but don't go far enough." Kilsyth MP David Hodgett recently sent more than 20,000 stickers to people within his electorate and has more available for anyone who is interested.
Mr Hodgett's spokesman, Steve Mann, said that since the stickers were distributed the feedback from residents had been positive, proving it was an issue "even bigger than we thought". He said many people had come forward saying they found the tactics used by the salespeople intimidating — particularly for those who lived alone.
A spokeswoman from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said it could not comment on the legality of the stickers.
Have Your Say: Do you think there should be a 'do not knock' register? Post your comment online at maroondahweekly.com.au or via Facebook, facebook.com/MaroondahWeekly .
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