It’s not unusual to see people walking along the streets of our neighborhood community performing door-to-door sales, or solicitations. Although the interruptions to our lives caused by solicitors are often bothersome and inconvenient, door-to-door solicitation is legal. Listed below are some valuable Do's and Don'ts for dealing with door-to-door solicitors:

YOU SHOULD NEVER:
• Allow yourself to be pressured into buying immediately. A legitimate business operator will give you time to think it over.
• Pay in advance. Wait until all work has been completed and you have checked to see that it has been done properly.
• Sign a contract until you have read it carefully and understand it thoroughly.
• Sign a contract that doesn't explain your 3-day right to cancel, that doesn't have the name and address of the seller or their business organization, or that contains blank spaces.
• Buy any goods or services in a door-to-door sale when you have even the slightest doubt as to whether you need them, want them, or can afford them.

YOU SHOULD ALWAYS:
• Ask to see some identification.
• Ask to see a Home Solicitation Sales Permit issued by the Clerk of the Court (In most cases they must have one to sell door-to-door).
• Check out the sellers and their business organization by calling the Better Business Bureau before agreeing to buy.
• Take the time to consider whether you really need or want the product or service being offered.
• Get additional expert opinions/estimates when door-to-door salespersons assert that repairs, pest control, or other products or services are needed.
• Call the police if the door-to-door salesperson becomes abusive or uses veiled threats to intimidate you.
• Be aware that in most door-to-door sales costing more than $25 the buyer has the right to cancel within three days, and the seller must provide the buyer with notification of this right in writing at the time of sale.
• Report any suspicious door-to-door salespersons and any occurrence of fraud, deception, or misrepresentation to the Brevard County Sheriffs Office and your Community Leaders.