Whingin' Pom said:On Sat, 28 Feb 2004 17:14:21 +0000, [email hidden] (Alan J. Wylie) wrote: <snip>
Quoted message said: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.
Quoted message said:Quoted message said: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.
