Cities Caution Homeowners Of Door-To-Door Sales

With warmer weather, come the knocks of door-to-door salespeople. The city of Ammon is warning homeowners to be extra cautious and ask to see their newly required identification badge.

Police said just this past weekend, pairs of people were trying to sell glass cleaner by going door-to-door in local neighborhoods.

One woman, they said, was wearing an ID tag from the state of Georgia. So, while it may have looked like she got the green light locally, she hadn’t.

Nick Scott solicited tickle giggles from his son on the lawn of his Ammon home Monday evening. But, he said, knocks from salespeople on his front door, don’t leave him laughing.

“(It) got to the point of two to three times a day and they’d always interrupt during dinner,” said Scott.

So, Scott put a “no soliciting” sign right in his front window. He said it’s usually ignored, and Saturday was no exception.

Scott said people selling glass cleaner left with a sale, but only because he wanted to get rid of them.

“It’s the pushiness and the not taking ‘no’ for an answer, which gets very agitating,” said Scott.

Shawna Avery, an Ammon enforcement officer, said the solicitors weren’t licensed by the city to sell door-to-door.

After a string of crime by salespeople last summer, Ammon’s city council changed its ordinance to require an ID card to be worn around the neck at all times. The permit costs $100.

“(The city clerk) does a background check, depository, sees if they’re a legit business,” said Avery.

The city of Idaho Falls followed suit with an ordinance update in March, by adding a door-to-door solicitation permit for $40 dollars a person.

“We do a full fingerprint background check, local and national background check on them,” said Capt. Ken Brown of the Idaho Falls Police Department.

Brown said Idaho Falls has issued nine permits so far, with another four pending. But he expected that number to increase alongside the outdoor temperature. It’s something Scott isn’t looking forward too.

“If I wanted to purchase something, I’d go to a store or online,” said Scott. “I don’t need companies coming to my door.”

Brown said there’s no law against pushy salespeople. He said homeowners should close the door, and if the solicitors still don’t leave, they should call the police.

Avery said the people selling cleaning supplies over the weekend were from out of town. She said one was issued a citation and the others told to leave town.