They may be liable for prosecution if they ignore a sign and refuse to leave - but not necessarily. Still, it does sometimes deter these nuisances. It's certainly not illegal to knock where there's a sign!

Last year at the London 50+ Show I made the mistake of putting my contact details on many forms of exhibitors: some were offering competitions as incentive. One such company was a well known financial adviser (often in the newspapers). They offered a free will writing consultation and I was later contacted to make an appointment. However, I subsequently cancelled as my mother had died, I was busy with her estate and grieving, and hadn't yet sorted out my own personal finances in regards to my own estate.

Time and time again that company called me, wanting to make another appointment, or just to talk to me, and once I said you can call me, but I won' change my mind.

This evening they called yet again! I politely said this isn't a convenient time and anyway I said I didn't want your company calling me again. No? He asked. No! I replied, thank you, goodbye.

Another nuisance caller has been Consumer Lifestyle. I am reeeeeelly losing my temper with them! I've decided that if they try yet again I will threaten to have them done for harassment.

No matter that I tell these companies I've registered with the TPS, they still persist. I must remember to use the 'then you're a cold caller' spiel.

I have to say that much to my dismay, after much discussion, JW's usually make an excuse to leave.

Mrs. P. once answered the door to a couple of Mormons, who asked "Good morning good lady, would you mind if we stand here and speak about God", to which she replied "Why certainly you may, and you take just as long as you like over it", then promptly closed the door and left them to it....

If I get those sort of calls, I just say "Hello", ( if it's a recorded one it will start when you speak) then I just leave the phone & walk away, they have to pay for the call for as long as they're on it. Also if you ask a "human" where they got your number from , it's ex-directory and on telephone preference they hang up.

Those computer ones drive me up the wall - I get about three a day and now I rarely answer the house phone; anyone that knows me knows to ring my mobile instead. I'm on the list for barring those calls but still they get through. Then I changed my phone number and went ex-directory and still they get through - how? You can't rant at a machine so how the heck do you stop them? I'm even now thinking about having the house phone disconnected as I'm paying for something I no longer use!

When you changed your phone number did you by any chance give the new one to your Bank? They are Blighters for selling their Customers phone numbers to other companies.

When you changed your phone number did you by any chance give the new one to your Bank? They are Blighters for selling their Customers phone numbers to other companies.