Do Not Knock
Show dodgy door-to-door sellers the door.
Sick of door-to-door traders and their pushy sales tactics? Get one of our “Do Not Knock” stickers and show them the door.
We’re distributing free “Do Not Knock” stickers as part of our campaign to fight back against dodgy door-to-door traders. The stickers can be put on your letterbox, front door – or anywhere prominent – to warn door-to-door sellers not to knock.
From 16 August 2022, any door-to-door seller that ignores a “Do Not Knock” sticker will face a fine of up to $30,000.
We launched this campaign because of the serious complaints we’ve fielded about door-to-door traders selling grossly overpriced products – often to people who can least afford to pay for them.
We’ve dealt with cases involving outrageously expensive $3000 vacuum cleaners that clean no better than vacuums you can buy for $100.
We’ve had complaints about $11,000 education software sold to parents with misleading claims about what it provides.
We’ve also heard from consumers enticed to buy overpriced beds and other household goods they couldn’t afford and go into debt to purchase.
The sales pitch used by the sellers can go on for hours. People have told us they’ve felt the only way to get rid of the salesperson is to buy the product.
We’ve also had complaints about pushy door-to-door sellers working for electricity companies as well as traders who knock on the door offering to prune trees or paint the roof. They take money for the job but the promised work either never gets done or is done so badly you have to pay someone else to fix it.
Everybody has an implied licence to enter your property and knock on your door. But you have the right to take away this licence. You can revoke a salesperson’s licence to enter your property by displaying a “Do Not Knock” sticker. If a door-to-door seller ignores the sticker, they’re likely to be trespassing.
From 16 August 2022, they also face a $30,000 fine under the Fair Trading Act.
Recent changes to the act will make it an offence for any seller to ignore a sticker, or other written or verbal direction not to enter your property.
In addition to fining traders, the courts will be able to make other orders, including cancelling a sales agreement and requiring the door-to-door seller to pay compensation to the consumer.
Put the sticker on your letterbox, front gate or front door – anywhere it’s clearly visible.
If a salesperson ignores a “Do Not Knock” sticker, they’re likely to be trespassing. You have the right to bring an action against them under common law.
From 16 August 2022, it will be an offence to ignore a sticker or any other written or verbal direction not to enter your property. If a salesperson ignores the sticker, make a complaint to the Commerce Commission.
We’d also like to hear from you if salespeople are ignoring the sticker. Contact us at donotknock@consumer.org.nz.
Yes. Consumer groups across the Tasman have used the stickers to campaign for better consumer protection there.
The sticker applies to uninvited salespeople. Be aware some door-to-door sellers use the ruse of phoning and offering a “free gift” if you agree to an in-home demonstration. They’re usually extremely coy about the product they’re selling and its price. Don’t feel shy about hanging up.
The sticker is only intended to prevent salespeople from knocking on your door. You also have the right to tell other door-knockers to leave if you don’t want them at your house.
Statistics NZ interviewers are an exception. Statistics NZ has the right to visit homes when it’s conducting official surveys. If selected for a survey, you’re required to participate. Interviewers will have an official identification badge.
If you buy goods or services and the value is more than $100, you have the right to cancel the deal for any reason. The seller must tell you this orally and in writing. You can cancel the deal within five working days of receiving the written agreement. Find out more about your rights.
The NZ Marketing Association operates 'do not mail' and 'do not call' registers, available free to consumers. If you don't want to receive cold calls from telemarketers, your home contact details can be added to the list.
The association's members use the list to find out who doesn't want to be called. But it's not foolproof - you'll still get calls from companies that aren't members of the association.
To use the registers:
Learn more about how telemarketers find you.
If a salesperson ignores your sticker you can warn the person they’re trespassing and you’ll call the police if they don’t leave. If the person doesn’t leave after you’ve given them a reasonable opportunity to do so, call 111 and ask for the police. The person is committing an offence under the Trespass Act by remaining on your property.
You can issue a trespass notice (408 KB). A trespass notice is a formal warning to stay off your property.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t own the home or the land, you just need to be a lawful occupier of the property (i.e. a tenant, licensee or owner) or someone authorised by the lawful occupier of the property.
You can issue a trespass notice orally or in writing. We recommend a written trespass notice so you have proof you’ve issued the notice.
You can use this template (408 KB).
Complete three copies of the trespass notice – one for the trespasser, one for you and one for your local police station. Also, complete the “Details of service of trespass notice” page as a record of the notice having been served.
To issue a written trespass notice, simply hand it to the person. If the person won’t take the notice or if it drops to the ground, you have still served the notice.
If a person comes back within two years of receiving a trespass notice, they will be committing an offence under the Trespass Act. The penalty for an offence under the Trespass Act is a fine of up to $1000 or a prison term of up to three months.
Here’s what members told us about their experiences:
Door-to-door salesmen turned up right on dinner time. It was pitch black in the middle of winter and I happened to be home alone. They put heaps of pressure on to change power providers.
Said ‘no thank you’ five times and asked him to leave and he still kept going.
Just pushy and made promises that I knew were untrue and could not be fulfilled.
The vacuum cleaner guy did not want to leave until we agreed to buy the machine costing $3500.
A salesperson came into my home and eventually had to be threatened with the police to get him out.
Would not take ‘no thanks’ for an answer.
Salesperson was verbally abusive when asked to leave.
Wouldn’t go away and kept his foot in the door so we couldn’t get it closed.
Pushy and argumentative and refusing to accept no for an answer.
Power company salesman simply would not take no for an answer and was very reluctant to leave until I made it clear in very simple terms.
Became really unpleasant when we wouldn’t sign an agreement to buy a $4500 cleaner!
Sadly since the campaign was launches ive always had the do not knock stickers ive also had various signs and posters on my door especially now covid has been an issue. REDRAT was a troublesome one. As we're the telecommunications ones. I cant even remember the company but I had just given birth and really prayed on that volitility even with my husband here we have a sticker and cut out the cards/signage and saved all from. The stickers and plaster them on every window and door and even point to them when people attempt to knock on the door but this guy was adament we coukd have broadband fibre I stated quite firmly we could not as there was no fibre installed in our lane super pushy and eventually I signed and kept the copy of my contract and later contacted the company explaining it was impossible also enable contacted me and stated we have had a request from another company for the fibre install I said no leave as is becasue we are not actually with any provider and need it left for when and if anyone wants fibre installed at the residential property so they went to great lengths to push for the supply only in December 2021 have we finally had fibre installed to our address we still don't have a connection to the house as dont need/want it we are with skinny jump thats sufficient for our household but this door sales man arrived in 2017 after I had just given birth go figure. How on earth could he promise we recieve fibre and be charged a fibre rate for no service get real. Argh made me so angry and the ignorance of ignoring the signs.
I understand the "Do Not Knock" sign is aimed at salespeople, and mine's working very well at that.
I'd really like to have one for charity door-knockers as well, and religious door-knockers, and basically anyone who I haven't expressly or implicitly (couriers) invited on to the property.
I don't think this is unreasonable: I do make charitable donations - to charities I've chosen after research, and by bank deposit, not signing up to door knockers - so I don't think I'm being a stingy grinch.
Any chance of this on the horizon? Or, if not, any suggestion for how I might word something to make myself?
Hi Lucy,
Our campaign targets salespeople as they are the ones creating the real harm. But there's nothing to stop people from making their own signs for charities and religious door knockers as well though. You can use the printable version of the sticker here as a starting point: https://consumer-nz-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/1333/Do_Not_Knock_sticker.pdf
Kind regards,
Fonda - Consumer NZ staff
Hey there I have made a really big sign on my door you can also get templates but also for the covid situation now also I have a sign on my door that stipulates there is an immunocompromised person in the home and not to knock and in the event of an emergency or requiring making co tact with the resident to Contact via Phone. Its certainly made a huge impact for me. You can download /print and laminate or make your own styles online.
We just moved back to New Zealand. And I've had THREE door to door salespeople. In a week! Now one admittedly was from charity, but I understand most of these style of door knockers are actually paid a commission by the charity. If rather all of a donation to go to the charity which is why I'll never sign up this way. Printing a sticker!!!
We live in one of those sausage type apartments and so door to door knockers come to either door, and will now come to the front claiming they did not see the sticker on the back door. Is it possible to get another sticker. Also one seller claimed he could not read (A preacher for Destiny Church)
Hi Lawrence,
We’ll get a sticker posted to your PO box address today. The sticker is only intended to prevent salespeople from knocking on your door, but you also have the right to tell other door-knockers to leave if you don’t want them at your house.
Kind regards,
Fonda - Consumer NZ staff
Hi I thought it was working well until Trust Power ignored the sign in Cockle Bay Auckland last night 11 August. Rather frustrating!
Hi Janet,
We're sorry to hear your sticker was ignored. If you would like us to follow up with Trustpower please email us with more details at donotknock@consumer.org.nz.
Kind regards,
Aneleise - Consumer NZ staff.
I put up two of the stickers (got them from Resene shop as my teenage son commandeered the one that came with the magazine and put it on his bedroom door which I think is to tell us to keep out…), one on the letter box and then another near the front door. Haven't had any door knocking since.
Was getting a lot of power companies and charities knocking at around 5-6pm. Haven't had any lately. Well done Consumer.
Same here.
Haven't had any sales people knocking and being a nuisance, since putting the sticker up on the front door. In the past they were becoming somewhat intrusive, with some not accepting NO as an answer.
Prior to the stickers becoming available, I had no option but to be blunt, to the point of being rude in some cases, which I didn't enjoy doing.
Seems the stickers are doing the intended job. Thanks Consumer.
Consumer regularly sends unsolicited advertising for bulk wine at dirt cheap prices.
I personally dislike this cheap piggy back method of bypassing my no junk mail sticker on my letter box. Could consumer please explain why my right to no junk mail is bypassed.
It irks me considerably that consumer ignores my complaints on this matter. Please answer whether I have the right to prevent my family seeing alcohol advertising that enters by trojan horse. I pay for a magazine that enhances my rights. My rights are being totally ignored in this case.
I would be interested in the ethics of advertising the most harmful drug being discussed by Consumers heirachy. The next magazine that enters with alcohol advertising will necessitate my subscription being terminated. What choices do I have?
Hello Steve,
Our magazine does not contain advertising and is flowrapped for delivery to members so we’re not sure how this could have happened. Unless you are referring to the wine taste testing that is carried out by experts a few times a year which we do publish?
Thanks,
Richard - Consumer NZ staff.
An excellent idea. How about providing stickers specifically directed at Jehovah's witnesses?
Does this also apply to all the charities wanting us to sign up. I think about 50% of our door knocks are people wanting to sign us up for sponsorship?
Hello Alison, the sticker is only intended to prevent salespeople from knocking on your door but you also have the right to tell other door-knockers to leave if you don’t want them at your house. Thanks, Kate - Consumer staff
Hi there, what about providing a pdf of a printable A5 sign? I'm happy to put one on the window near my door - but as a tenant I'm reluctant to put stickers on the property.
Hi there Y M. Thanks for your suggestion. We have just added a link to the FAQs at the bottom of the page so you can now print a pdf version of the sticker. Thank you, Kate - Consumer staff
We live in a rural area, so not so likely to have 'door-knockers' - what we do get though are the annoying phone calls where after I say 'Hello' a strange (probably electronic) voice starts trying to sell me household goods. It has also filled up the answerphone tape with its garbage. Is there a way to stop this ?
Hello Elizabeth. The NZ Marketing Association operates 'do not mail' and 'do not call' registers, available free to consumers. If you don't want to receive cold calls from telemarketers, your home contact details can be added to the list. There is more information about this within the FAQs on this page. Thanks, Kate - Consumer NZ staff.
when you hear the voice start hit the # key multiple times and the machine will not call again :)
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