We can walk away from them in Sainsburys or in the town centre, but it’s a gross invasion of privacy when it’s at your home, and they are on your damn doorstep! Plus if you’re rude to them, they know where you live!

So we put up a sign about a year ago:

NOT WELCOME:

SALEPERSONS
COLD CANVASSERS
PEOPLE DOING SURVEYS
RELIGIOUS CALLERS

We do not disturb you in your home, so please do not disturb us in ours…

For a while it worked, and no-one knocked, but for this past two or three months, people have started to knock again, despite the sign being there. It has happened SEVEN times in the last four weeks alone now!

My pal thinks it’s because some people are so desperate for the work, or the business, because of the recession, that they are taking their chances and hoping someone will reply and they will get a sale anyway. My opinion is that if they KNOW there is a recession, why bother people, when they must KNOW that folk can hardly afford to pay their mortgage, let alone afford a new conservatory/a new porch/new windows/doors/kitchens/soffits/ or to give to charity etc etc etc…

Moreover, there is a large A4 sign in the door, stating clearly they should not knock! Another problem is; my husband works nights every second week – and on three occasions in the past couple of weeks alone, they have knocked, sometimes two or three times, and woken him when he is asleep, (after his night shift.) This is NOT FUNNY. It’s giving him broken sleep.

It’s a real bugbear for us, but what else can we do other than put the bloody sign up?

My hubby answered the door last week, and before they could speak, he said ‘why did you knock?’ and the one woman (a charity collector,) said ‘I have been told to knock the door anyway, even if there is a sign saying not to!’ We were gobsmacked!

Another TWO who my hubby answered the door to, (2 weeks ago,) said they ‘didn’t see the sign until they had knocked.’ It’s an A4 sign in the biggest font you can get, and you can spot the sign from halfway down the damn road, so no WAY did they ‘not see it,’ before they knocked!

I have told my hubby to not answer when someone knocks, as we can see if it’s someone we know from a side window that looks onto the front door. So I said ‘when it’s someone we don’t know, don’t answer.’ But he still answers! And then asks them why they knocked, or just stands there blankly, then says ‘no, thank you.’

Any advice? Thanks folks. This is getting so bloody annoying now! Especially with waking up my hubby when he is asleep, after being at work at night…

Is it offically ‘harrassment’ and can we threaten them with the police?

"Do you favor the incurring of indebtedness by the Commonwealth of $400,000,000 for grants and loans to municipalities and public utilities for the cost of all labor, materials, necessary operational machinery and equipment, lands, property, right and easements, plans and specifications, surveys, estimates of costs and revenues, prefeasibility studies, engineering and legal services and all other expenses necessary or incident to the acquisition, construction, improvement, expansion, extension, repair or rehabilitation of all or part of drinking water system, storm water, nonpoint source projects, nutrient credits and wastewater treatment system projects?"

Can anyone explain why the PA gov’t has to borrow money to pay for this instead of cutting spending in other, less important areas? Why do they need to borrow money when taxes are so high?

For example, Wachovia’s has various business lines of credits http://www.wachovia.com/small_biz/page/0,,446_612_1399,00.html Their business line of credit can even be approved overnight,

However, if you’re applying for a loan and if it is a big amount, banks and even the SBA may consider other factors aside from your business credit:

- A business plan explaining what the business is

- Your background and experience in the business — in my experience, this is KEY in the eyes of the bank because they want to make sure that you know what you are doing and that you can make the business work. If you don’t have any experience with the business, have someone on board that knows the business to give banks assurance that someone will guide you

- Your credit factors because it shows your dependability and how well you handle credit. They will do a credit check on you and poor credit history may be frowned upon, or even reason for the disapproval of your loan application

- Your collateral. Banks, even SBA guaranteed loans, want the borrower to show collateral. They want to be guaranteed that somewhere somehow they can get payment from you

- Condition or terms of loans. Banks would want to know three important things: "How much money are you requesting? What will it be used for? and For how long will it be needed?" Banks oftentimes prefer to approve loans for items that can be identified, has lasting value, and can be repossessed and sold if things fail.

Aside from banks I suggest you consider microloan providers. They typically fund up to $30K Read about the SBA Microloan Program http://www.sba.gov/financing/sbaloan/microloans.html and you can find SBA Accredited Microloan Providers here http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol145/microloanproviders.htm
References :

There are numerous factors. If you only have a few of the angles covered, you will not get it. You have to know every aspect of your business idea. $15,000 without knowing your idea, seems very low. Banks love to lend just enough to get someone started only to foreclose on them months later. If you are preparing for day one on, you should have all operating expenses already sitting in the bank for the first 6 – 8 months. This covers all taxes, labor, rent or mortgage, utility bills, shipping and receiving, insurance, office supplies, ect. All I can say is do your homework in full. Know where every penny is going to be spent. Know your profit margin. Plan for the unexpected. Do not expect things to go right. The main thing is to beleive in yourself and beleive in your business venture. Just a hint of unsurity will send you away with nothing.

I spent 4 years with my project and have obtained over 4 million in financing from Investors with poor credit history and no money. You have to beleive in yourself and your idea. Without confidence you have nothing to offer and they will not invest in you reguardless of your past history.
References :

How will your company repay the debt? Include any projections, rental income, etc that will be used to repay the bank.

Collateral – what will you be securing the loan with? property, assets, etc.

Your money – on average, banks will want you to put down 15%-20% of the loan amount into the company of your own money, especially if you’re buying a building.

Personal credit – you’ll need to personally guaranty the loan if you’re a 20% or greater owner – make sure you’re credit report is excellent

Experience – banks can be somewhat leery lending to a new company. This is because so many new companies fail. Make sure to include all experience you have in your field. If you’ll have any partners, etc make sure to include their biographies/experience as well.
References :
10+ years commercial banking