Had a knock at the door this morning a woman in what i thought was chemist/hospital/dentist type white top said she was looking for people with dogs and could hear i had one, we live in a small 'elderly/not well' persons close which has 4 dog owners.She said her company was called Ace and wanted dog owners to watch a video today and then the company will ask us tomorrow what we thought of it, we declined cause i am nervous about scams etc and dog stealing, but just said hubby said no.Has anyone heard of it or had them come to their door?

Ooohhhh - you did the right thing. That sounds too much like a scam for my liking. Even if it's not, its a bit rude cold calling like that. I can't imagine any company doing market research by going round listening for dogs in people's back yards, can you?

I would also contact the local police to find out if a company is actually doing this.
there are so many dogs being stolen nowadays you cant be too careful I dont even put my address down on catalogues because its too easy ...I cant believe that everyone who attend dog shows are all ligit: I wont advertise the breed I have on my car (I'd love too) I'm wary of "dogs beware" signs as that is also an invitation .

trust no-one

~Roni

If she was geniuinly doing market research, she should have had an ID card with the details of her companies name and contact details.  If she didn't have this, she wasn't genuine, and I would call the police if I were you.  I have done Market research in the past, and MR companies are VERY hot on this sort of stuff ;)

wouldnt they also allow you to phone the company they claim to be from to check aswell if their legit :)

I don't even trust ID cards because how can you know that it is genuine?  I wouldn't even know what a police ID card is supposed to look like.  I have my own policy of not doing any sort of business at the door.  If they want to leave a business card for me to contact them later if I'm interested fine because I can check those details out at my convenience otherwise sorry not interested.  I never give out my home phone number either. Many moons ago when I was a young mum I had a man call at my door doing a survey on bras - yeah, right! I trust no one.

I am a very rud moo and simply won't answer the door to anyone I don't know or am not expecting.

When the door bell goes I shout who is it, and if I don't get an satidfactory answer I don't open it :D

If I accidentally do open it I say a very curt no thank you and shut the door in their faces.

I hate door to door peddlers of any kind be it goods religion or politics.

>wouldnt they also allow you to phone the company they claim to be from to check aswell if their legit 

But what is stopping them from completely having made a company name up, laminating a bit of card with a name, maybe a passport photo, and this 'made up' companies phone number, that happens to belong to 'their partner in crime' who of course will answer the phone with "Good morning, _______ (name of company) how can I help?"?

I would be very wary too.

There was a spate of burglaries in Edinburgh not so long ago, where a courier company would put a postcard (like the posties does when he takes a parcel back to the depot) asking you to call this number to arrange for delivery/collection - they suggest a time - you say no sorry I am at work - bingo you come home and you have been burgled

Everyone please be careful

I had a card through my door telling me I'd won a prize and had to go somewhere at a certain time on a certain day to collect it.  I believe when you go to collect the prize it is an empty address and meanwhile someone is at yours burgling you! (I live in Edinburgh too).

Also, I have had an awful lot of people recently stopping me when on walks and asking me if my dog is a pedigree and what his name is.  Call me suspicious, but I kind of believe they are looking out for valuable dogs to steal.

CG

thats true Natalie1212
kinda makes a mockery out of those ads on tv doesnt it....where gas/elec engineer calls round, they were advising people to check up by ringing the company to make sure there legit

Thanks guys  i emailed an 'ace site' but they said they dont solicit door to door, and asked where is Essex, ............they are in California, so not them ,i put this up on a couple other sites and they said same as you because of dogs being stolen and no id and because i had to ask 'what company' to contact police as it sounded dodgy so i did!

I'd also warn all the neighbours and anyone I know with a dog or who knows someone with a dog ;) can't be too careful ;) ;)

Hi in light of all the dogs that are being stolen, i would tread carefully on this and try and find out if the company actually does existice.

The easiest way to check out if a company exists is to do a check at companies house. they record activities and which are disolved, in receivership or liquidation.

If a neighbour did take a video ask them for the loan of the video and take down the company details, then check it out.

I have had 2 telephone calls recently (they were on the answer phone as I was at work) where a strange voice says  *press 9 for further details*  I deleted them straight away as I have a vague memory of this being a phone scam where if you pressed 9 someone could tap into your line and then run up huge bills.

Our neighbourhood watch do some very good stickers to the effect that you wont open the door to salesmen so dont even bother ringing. Works surprisingly well and if they do ring I just ask if they cant read or are they just plain ignorant ;)