BBB: Be cautious of door-to-door salespeople
The Better Business Bureau is warning about door-to-door sales in Rexburg.
A news release from the BBB Serving the Snake River Region gave an example of one Rexburg woman calling the police because a salesperson refused to leave her porch, even though she and her husband had asked him to leave.
The solicitor was working for T&K Chemical, which is not registered with the City of Rexburg and has an “F” rating from the BBB.
Anyone doing door-to-door sales must have a permit and be registered, said Rexburg City Clerk Blair Kay in the news release. A background check is run before the tag is issued.
“They have to have a badge displayed when going from door to door,” said Kay.
The BBB said spring is the time for salespeople “to begin their annual trek through neighborhoods making pitches.”
The BBB gave the following tips to people dealing with solicitors at their doorstep:
Be safe. Ask for identification before you open the door. Stand strong. Do not invite unsolicited salespeople into your home. If you do allow a salesperson inside and decide during the presentation that you are not interested in making a purchase, simply ask him or her to leave. If the salesperson refuses to leave, threaten to call the police, and follow through if they don’t leave immediately. High-pressure sales tactics. Be wary of high-pressure sales tactics. A trustworthy company should let you take time to think about the purchase and compare prices before buying or putting down a deposit. Some unscrupulous door-to-door sellers will put pressure on you to close the deal at that moment, and even make special offers to entice you. If you find yourself in this position, find a way to end the conversation quickly. Time sensitive offer. Don’t be pressured to take advantage of a time-sensitive offer. Take time to decide whether you’re sure you want the product. Do some comparison-shopping first. Research the company with BBB. Visit www.bbb.org to view the company’s BBB Business Review to find out more about their marketplace performance. You can download and use the BBB iPhone app to access the company’s report while the person is standing at your door, or visit m.bbb.org on your mobile device. Get transaction details in writing. Be sure you receive a contract or receipt explaining the details of your purchase and all of the terms and conditions that apply. Remember the “Three-Day Cooling-Off Rule.” The Federal Trade Commission’s Three-Day Cooling-Off Rule gives consumers three days to cancel purchases of more than $25 that are made in their home or at a location that is not the seller’s permanent place of business. Along with a receipt, the salesperson should always provide a cancellation form that can be sent to the company to cancel the purchase within three days. By law, the company must give consumers a refund within 10 days of receiving the cancellation notice.
