A disgruntled resident is so fed-up with ‘nuisance’ cold callers he’s taken matters into his own hands and is charging £10 a minute from when they knock on his door.
James Jeagar, from Great Cornard, Suffolk, is ‘sick and tired’ of ‘scumbag’ strangers disturbing his peace in a ploy to make money or get him to sign up to causes.
In an attempt to ward off the persistent groups Mr Jeagar printed out a sign and stuck it on his window using sellotape.
It read: ‘Attention door knockers. This household charges £10 per minute (minimum charge 5 minutes) to listen to sales pitches, charity workers and religious messages.
‘The minimum charge is five minutes, payable by cash in advance.
‘By knocking on the door you signal your agreement to the terms outlined.’
Mr Jeagar believes the message has had the desired effect and appears to already be getting through to the culprits.
He told the BBC: ‘I just put it up as a bit of a joke but I’ve not had any unwanted doorknockers come around since, so it is proving to be quite successful.
‘I am just sick and tired of people coming round and knocking on my door, trying to get you to buy something or donate to something – it’s just a such a nuisance.
‘But, if they want us to give them money, well it’s now a £50 minimum charge to try to convince me – just £10 per minute of me standing there listening is all I ask.’
He added that he posted a message in the 15,000 strong Facebook group Sudbury Suffolk Moaners – a forum set up specifically for fed-up locals in the area to say their piece and receive support from the community.
Mr Jeagar said many group members were ‘supportive and genuinely positive’.
He has now called on other people to follow suit and take a stand against cold callers in the hope it may help protect the more vulnerable homeowners in the county and prevent them being pushed into parting with their cash.