| DOOR-TO-DOOR SALES
Q. What are the problems in door-to-door sales?
A. Most people feel secure in their homes. Ironically, that feeling
makes them especially
vulnerable to door-to-door salespeople. That's particularly true of homebound
people, such as
the elderly or invalids. You have few facts by which to judge a door-to-door
salesperson.
There is no manager, no showroom, and no immediate way to assess the company
that the
salesperson represents (if there is one).
Q. Do any laws protect purchases made as a result of door-to-door
sales?
A. Federal law now requires a three-day "cooling-off period"
for door-to-door sales. During
that time, you can cancel purchases you make from someone who both solicits
and closes the
sale at your home.
You don't have to give any reason for changing your mind, and the three
days don't
start until you receive formal notice of your right to cancel. You can
cancel almost any sale
not made at a fixed place of business, such as sales made at your home,
someone else's home,
or a hotel. Federal law extends this cooling-off period to both credit
and noncredit sales. It
also forbids the company to charge you any cancellation fee.
The federal law will apply to most such cases, and many states have similar
laws that
fill in the gaps.
Q. What if you do buy from a door-to-door salesperson?
A. Federal and state laws usually require such salespeople to
provide you with the following
details on your receipt:
• the seller's name and place of business;
• a description of the goods and services sold;
• the amount of money you paid, or the value of any goods delivered
to you;
• your cooling-off period rights (see above).
Also, if the salesperson makes the sale in Spanish or another language,
you may have
the right to all the above details in that language.
Q. What happens if I cancel my order during the cooling-off period?
A. State law usually will require the salesperson to refund your
money, return any trade-in you
made, and cancel and return the contract. The salesperson has ten business
days to do this
under federal law. You must make the goods available to be picked up during
that period.
Under federal law, if the salesperson waits longer than twenty calendar
days, you may be
allowed to keep the goods free.
Q. What about door-to-door home repair sales?
A. Tell anyone who supposedly has some leftover asphalt, shingles,
or other material from a
nearby job, and offers you a sweet deal to fix your driveway, roof, or
whatever, to go
somewhere else. Make your home repairs when you're ready, and only with
contractors you
know. (See the section below on home repairs.)
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