The
Angels Camp Police Department has received multiple reports of
door-to-door salespeople attempting to sell educational materials to
residents. Some residents have advised that the salespeople have claimed
that they are associated with Mark Twain Elementary School and they
asked personal questions regarding children.
The
door-to-door salespeople are not associated with Mark Twain Elementary
School and have not obtained a business license to conduct business
inside the city limits of Angels Camp.
The
Angels Camp Police Department and The Better Business Bureau recommend
these tips for residents when approached by a door-to-door salesperson:
Be safe. Ask for identification before you open the door. Never invite the solicitor into your home. 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.
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.
Do not offer your personal information or the information of other people. Do not offer your personal information or the information of other people in our community.
Victims of fraudulent door-to-door sales should report the incident to their local law enforcement, and contact their Better Business Bureau at 1-800-388-2222.