Watch out for door-to-door scammers
Door-to-door salespeople are the scourge of the earth, says consumer advocate Ellen Roseman. In her view, allowing an army of pushy salespeople to trick people into signing contracts adds no value and should be outlawed.
Amen to that.
Her latest crusade? Shady vendors who offer to upgrade the hot water tanks of those foolish enough to answer the door. The biggest offender in her mind is National Home Services, an outfit many consumers mistakenly confuse with Direct Energy or Enbridge Gas, the companies that look after the bulk of Ontario’s natural gas delivery.
Read these horror stories and you'll see how people get stuck with things they don't want and often don't need.
Sound familiar? If you’re even a little tempted to buy something at the door, exercise some precautions to save yourself from getting duped, say consumer advocates.
* Ask for identification. Don’t let a salesperson into your home
* Do your research. Ask for as much written material about the company and the product as possible and get a contact number for the company he/she represents.
* Check out the company’s BBB Reliability Report before making a purchase or signing a contract.
* Don’t pay with cash. If you’re going to make a purchase, be sure to pay with a check or credit card. That way, if you’re duped, you may still have time to cancel the cheque or report the fraud to your credit card company.
* Don‘t make cheques payable to the salesperson; make all cheques to the company.
* If you sign a contract at the door and change your mind, remember to cancel within the 10-day cooling off period.
* Cancel the contract in writing – by fax, e-mail or registered mail, or by hand delivery. Be sure to keep a copy so you have proof that you cancelled within the allowed time.
Have you been stung by a dubious door-to-door pitch? Water heater or air purifier, how did you fare once you answered the doorbell?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
Posted by: Nikko Grice | Jun 29, 2021 5:12:43 AM
How about getting your facts straight? Direct Energy does not, nor ever has been a Natural Gas Utility.
Many door to door salespeople have more integrity than you. Do not judge lest you be judged yourself.
I have been in sales for 27 years and have many happy customers. I endeavour to offer the best possible programs to consumers that I can find. I find your column to be slanderous and damaging to legitimate sales professionals who endeavour to offer beneficial programs to consumers.
Tired of your crap !!!
Posted by: david clark | Jun 29, 2021 5:24:54 AM
everyone has a car or access to a ride we really have no need for door to door sales people we can simpley go to the store and buy what we need or get it on line say no to all door to door sales people they will have to get a real job then
Posted by: Glenn | Jun 29, 2021 8:19:36 AM
Keep your digital camera at the door... I snap a pic of anyone who knocks on my door, very first thing I do, before engaging in any conversation... It changes the tone and puts me in control of the situation... The only word you need is "no" .. dont defend yourself or argue withthem in any way.. just keep saying no to everything they say... till they go away...
Posted by: Jay | Jun 29, 2021 8:35:05 AM
Im not a door-to-door salesman, nor would I want to be...Im way to lazy. But I have an unbiased opinion on it. Its a job, plain and simple...Sales is a tough job and there is definitely shady people out there. Someone posted saying to get rid of door-to-door sales cuz we have cars and can go to the store...Some things cant be bought at the store, sometimes the door-to-door thing is actually beneficial. Just be smart about it. I almost got into financial consulting and may have done some door-to-door, doesnt mean Im trying to sell you something but making you aware of what is offered. Its a convenience also, think about it...would you rather go to Pizza Pizza and get it or have it delivered.
Just be smart, let them do their thing, if you have a million questions, ASK THEM...if they are shady once you start drilling them, they will walk away
Posted by: Jonathan | Jun 29, 2021 9:02:26 AM
I find the best way to avoid these situations is to own a very big dog. A Great Dane works wonders to ensure people back away fast. I also feel we have way to much marketing ploys in our culture, you can not even surf the web without being over burden with ads to buy something that will do nothing for you.
Companies should just respect that when people want something they will come to them to buy, but don't push your product on people that do not need these items. It is like the drug companies that put ads on TV for drugs that can help you. The only problem is, the side affects of taking the drug is worse than the problem the drug is correcting, and people that show up at their doctors office asking about these drugs end up looking like fools when they find out they don't have that medical problem.
Real simple, we need less marketing in our lives, or we need the adult control that allows us to turn off the marketing ads. Web sites should offer an ad free page to visiters that do not want the ads and we should have the control to have these marketing offers to just leave us alone.
Posted by: Guy | Jun 30, 2021 8:16:38 AM
If you have issues with Telemarketers or Door to Door Sales People, simply don't answer. Call waiting or a peak through the window/door hole will identify if it is a stranger. If I see young kids at the door, chances are they are canvassing for their schools or sports club which I always sponsor. If the phone number is not famliar to me, I don't answer. They can leave a message. Problem solved for all of you. You are welcome!
Posted by: FertilAid for Men | Jul 5, 2021 10:30:01 PM
Wow thanks for sharing this post..Thanks for the idea..
Posted by: William | Sep 3, 2021 8:55:42 PM
I find that putting a gun into their face really, really helps to get rid of door-to-door salespeople. I love to see their horrified reaction. When the police come, I deny everything, and they are too stupid to find any evidence. I have been getting away with this for 15 years.
Posted by: KAG | Sep 7, 2021 12:05:58 PM
Door-to-door seemed effective for making sure that I needed the service that the comany was offering. In this case, it was a water heater. My heater was a rental, 14 year old heater that I had noticed paying a higher gas bill for than my neighbour with the same set-up. When the door-to-door company came by and told me the information that I could pay less for the rental that I already had, I was grateful.
Why not support a company whose bottom line is to save us money and to help the environment by updating an appliance that uses 20% of the energy in the home!
Obviously Direct Energy is all in a huff because they don't want to lose the business. I say it's about time they educate their customers about proper maintenance of the heater! I had no idea I was supposed to empty out the heater twice a year! What a waste of efficiency! So much scale build up!
Direct Energy is just upset about having REAL competition that exposes their shortcomings. Welcome to the real world direct energy, the best company will win! I would advize people to use your brains, not your fear response. Ask questions and figure it out for yourself, dont slam the door out of fear!
I love my carbon neutral water heater! :)
Posted by: Dr. Lindon | Sep 9, 2021 8:37:30 PM
KAG, in the 35 years that I have been developing energy efficient processes (long before anyone even cared), I have never heard of such BS!! A carbon neutral water heater? Come on, get real. You mention a gas bill, so your water heater is not solar powered. Have you been inhaling too much carbon monoxide? Go back to school and learn some basic thermodynamics.
Posted by: Robert elmore | Dec 22, 2021 12:51:33 PM
i have been trying to cancell my contract with direct energy for months ,it is impossible. i have phoned them,talked to many of their reps .they all have the same b.s. story about why it is not cancelled.they lie. once they get you on contract they keep ypu there and their charges for gas are higher than any of their competitors.but you cant get out this is an informationnotice to help other people to not get sucked in by their sneeky sales people. sincerely R Elmore