Here's something of interest for tech-savvy folk:

I have followed the methods on your website to stop junk mail and it certainly has cut back on the amount of junk posted through my letter box. But I still get quite a lot of junk mail from local businesses who ignore any notice I put on my door.

As my gates need replacing, I have decided to order new ones with a combination lock. The idea being that I can give the combination to family, friends, neighbours, Royal Mail and meter readers etc. If I order goods online I can include delivery instructions which provide the combination number. Additionally, I am going to put a local 01 number on my gate for people to call should they require entry and do not know the combination number. I can let them in, either by giving them the combination over the phone or by opening the gate for them.

Phone numbers can be obtained from Flextel for as little as £1 with no ongoing costs. Flextel numbers can be diverted over Wi-Fi to my mobile phone for free so I can answer callers whenever I am at home or at any Wi-Fi access point. This would be entirely free for me although my visitors would have to pay for the call if answered. I expect that I can usually simply greet my caller at the gate without answering the phone so it would cost my caller nothing.

For a mere 0.7p per minute I could even divert calls to my mobile phone over the GSM network, meaning I can speak to callers at my home no matter where I am and without having to be near a Wi-Fi access point.

Another advantage of using a phone to answer calls is that I would not have the expense of installing and maintaining intercom equipment. Doorstep sellers would have little hesitation using an intercom but I doubt they would pay to call a number from their mobile phone.

Additionally, I have managed to set up a phone system which allows me to view the callers number even if they should withhold their number. Calls can be automatically recorded and any hoax callers can be barred from calling again, by using suitable smartphone software.

It also means I can dispense with those pesky stickers on my door which, on many occasions fail to dissuade doorstep sellers and junk mail deliverers.

A very fancy alternative for an intercom indeed! I think the pesky stickers are still required though, if only to prevent doorstep callers ring the Flextel number and to discourage junk mailers from sticking the junk mail in the gate.