Office of Consumer Affairs
Consumer Factsheet
 

DOOR TO Door Solicitations

Before You Answer The Door

ü       Remember, you have the right to refuse to let the seller in.  Through a locked screen door ask the seller to leave your property if you are not interested. 

ü       Post a “No Solicitors” sign in clear visible view on your property if you want to stop sellers from disturbing you. 

ü       Ask to see the seller solicitor’s license or permit.  

ü       Before signing or giving away your money make sure you get a written copy of the contract and on it is all the company’s information including their name, address, telephone number, and name of the salesperson.  Also, make sure you have copies of all their literature describing the terms and conditions. 

ü       If you purchase goods or services for $25 or more, you have the right to cancel within 3-days under Ohio’s Home Solicitation Sales Act.  The law requires they give you the notice of cancellation in writing.  To cancel a contract it usually requires you to write to the company.  

ü       If the solicitor is seeking charitable donations, ask to see his/her company identification card because in most cases charity solicitations do not require a seller’s permit.  Be sure to ask who the money is for and their address, how much is spent on fundraising, and how much actually goes to the charity or ask them to give you literature on the charity before you will mail your donation.

Be on the Alert

Be especially wary of those solicitors who offer to do repairs on your property at a cheap price because they had left over product (asphalt for driveway or roofing materials), these individuals have a history of doing shoddy work and are not located in the area, and in many cases not even in the state, so if you need to file a complaint about the product or service, it is much more difficult and often impossible to receive satisfaction because the company or individuals can not be located.