Solicitors Upset Rexburg Neighborhood

Are you tired of solicitors knocking on your door?

Some folks in one Rexburg neighborhood say salespeople visit their home almost daily.

The city of Rexburg requires every business soliciting in town to hold a permit, but this hasn’t stopped salespeople from knocking.

The Henderson neighborhood looks like your average neighborhood, but those who live there said it’s a mecca for solicitors.

“It seems like just about every night we get someone at dinnertime selling cable or DISH network or cleaning products,? said Kimberlee Kelley, a resident of five years. “It’s kind of annoying to be interrupted every time you are eating dinner.”

“If they don’t want to get off your doorstep, they literally come and lay product down right at your feet and won’t leave, so that’s frustrating,? said resident Holly Allen, after she brought the issue to the City Council’s attention. ?I think it’s not cool to sell door to door.”

In light of the recent scandals in Idaho Falls this summer, Allen said her family has made some changes.

“It’s very scary, so our doors are always locked now, and they are told they are not to answer the door for anybody,” Allen said.

There were a few no-soliciting signs around the neighborhood, but Kelley said they don’t always work.

“Several of my neighbors have one, and it doesn’t seem to work,? she said. ?They point out they have a sign, and they still give their spiel.”

But one solicitor in the neighborhood said he stays away from those homes.

“Definitely can’t do that, definitely would get in trouble,? said Freddie Lee Andrews IV, a solicitor for Rent-A-Center. ?That’s a no-no for anybody doing a soliciting. That’s a lawsuit waiting to happen or negligence on the person that’s doing the soliciting.”

City Council member Donna Benfield said the city has required solicitors to carry a city permit for years, but only one business has registered this summer.

“I would venture to say 99 percent of them do not have a permit,” Benfield said.

And if they don’t, Benfield said you can do something about it.

“Call the police and have them check on them. It’s not against the law to call the police; the police like that,? Benfield said. ?If they are supposed to have a permit, then they will be asked to present it to the police. If not they are breaking the law.”

If solicitors are caught selling without a permit, they can be charged as much as $100 per day.

In contrast to the Rexburg ordinance, the city of Idaho Falls does not require solicitors to register with the city. The Idaho Falls City Council, however, is looking into passing an ordinance that would require some sort of permit, but right now it’s only in a preliminary stage.