On Sun, 29 Feb 2004 14:20:55 +1300, Whingin' Pom wrote:
> On Sat, 28 Feb 2004 17:14:21 +0000,
[email protected] (Alan J. Wylie) wrote: <snip>
>>If you don't know the caller, ask to see their identity card. Check it carefully, and keep the
>>chain on while you do this. Genuine callers won't mind if you close the door while you do this.
>>
Just a quick comment - the TV inspectors I met never introduced themselves as TV inspectors. One
asked to read the meter, and whilst I was showing him that it was outside on the garden wall he
asked me 'had I watched the football last night' - I mentioned we had no TV at which point he lost
interest in the meter and told me it was fine to keep it in the attic as long as I didn't watch it
in the attic, and the nasty letters stopped for a while. I was about 14 at the time.
In student halls a few years later, we had a visit from an 'European consumer survey' official who
spent 10 minutes asking my French flatmate about yoghurt preferences, then a few minutes asking him
what TV he watched, and what TV other people in the flat watched. We never found out for sure, but I
think this was more of the same.
>>If you're still not sure, ask the caller to come back later. You can then check their story by
>>phoning the organisation or company they claim to represent. Look up the number in your own
>>telephone directory. Don't rely on the telephone number on their card - it may be the number of a
>>crook's partner.
>
> Just popping out of lurkdom to comment on this.
>
> If you want to really be sure, when the TV license bloke calls, keep him waiting on the doorstep
> whilst you phone the TV license organisation and ask them to describe the man on your doorstep who
> is claiming to be an inspector. After all, a name can be faked as well as a phone number.
> Supposing they have just scanned a real ID? Of course, if they protest about this, call the
> police. I despise the presumption of guilt that comes with being TV-free. It is only fair to
> reflect this presumption back upon them. Assume they are a con-man/burglar until they prove
> otherwise.
>
> Give the inspector as weird a time as possible. Think Royston Vasey. Insist they remove shoes
> before entering and make them wear plastic bags over their socks. Place newspaper down for them to
> step on as they inspect your house. Carry a spray bottle and cloth and clean anything they touch.
> Be polite, but be weird. Have a little fun.
>
That's beautiful - unfortunately I never thought to be this creative. I don't even think we offered
the detector van people a cup of tea.
