Door-to-door sales not acting on consumer’s best interest
- Kim Thompson: Better Business Bureau
- June 22, 2019
- 1271
Many legitimate companies use door-to-door sales to promote their business; however, there are those individuals who offer deals for everything from driveway paving, to air-conditioning repair, to security systems that are not acting on the consumer’s best interest.
Security systems: Scammers may claim to be your current provider offering an “upgrade” or say your current alarm service is out of business or was sold to the door-to-door salesperson’s business. In reality you are tricked into signing a second contract. Often these come with multi-year, non-negotiable contracts. In the worst-case scenario, the “representative” asks to check your installed system but is really planning a break-in.
Home-improvement scams: Use caution when hiring a home-improvement contractor. Scams abound, especially following a major storm, flood or other weather event when many homeowners are trying to repair their houses. But contractor scams can happen any time, so be wary of high-pressure sales tactics, up-front fees and fly-by-night businesses. Con artists will take homeowners’ money and deliver slipshod work or no work at all.
Magazine sales: Students are often unaware they are being duped into selling magazine subscriptions for disreputable operators. In many cases wrong magazines arrive or consumers are overcharged. In other situations the magazine vendors’ boss is simply collecting credit card information for the purpose of committing fraud.
Get all promises in writing including start and finish dates. Ask questions. Never sign a contract that has an open-ended completion date or blank spaces. Resist high-pressure sales tactics such as the “good deal” you’ll get if you buy now. Always pay by credit card or check, never with cash. Check with www.BBB.org before using any company. Always do your own research. Check with past customers. Never respond on the same day. Think about the offer overnight. Ask for opinions.
To read more about these scams, visit www.bbb.org/homesecurity and www.bit.ly/DoortoDoorScams.
If you have been the victim of this or another scam, make others aware by filing a report on www.BBB.org/ScamTracker.
Visit www.bbb.org/canton or call 330-454-9401 to look up a business, file a complaint, write a customer review, read tips, follow us on social media and more.