Page 26
November 2013
The Charbonneau Villager
Watch Out for Door-to-Door Sales
Because we live in a neighborhood of 60+ year olds, we're prone
to more door-to-door solicitors.
some common ones for our
age group are magazine sales,
meat sales, "free" energy audits,
outdoor maintenance, voter surveys and registration and medical/wellness issues.
there are a few things you
need to know about soliciting in
Wilsonville.
First of all, in accordance with
City ordinance no. 495 and 537,
the City of Wilsonville requires
a solicitor's permit for any person age 16 and over who travels
"door-to-door", within the city
limits, with the intent to sell any
goods, services, or to distribute
flyers.
the permit process includes a
completed application, payment
of a fee and a criminal background
check. once the application is approved, a solicitor's badge with
photo ID will be issued and is
valid for six months. this badge
must be worn in plain sight when
soliciting. If someone comes to
your door, ask to see the badge.
this type of soliciting is only
allowed from 9 am to 8 pm on any
given day.
some tips to help avoid being
scammed at your own front door.
1) Do not let anyone you don't
know inside your home. You
don't need to open the door very
far.
2) Ask yourself if you really
need the product or service right
now. Don’t buy on impulse.
3) Ask for printed materials the
solicitor can leave behind. Any
legitimate company will provide
such material with a phone number and/or website for you to get
more information from.
4) Ask to see the badge mentioned above.
5) pay attention to what they
say. sometimes, they can be
smooth talkers.
6) never give out personal or
financial information, including
your credit card or bank account
number, unless you know the per-
son or are familiar with the company's reputation.
7) Don't be pressured into anything! Remember, it's your home
and your money.
If you've asked a solicitor to
leave, and that person refuses or
becomes irate, shut the door. If
they still don’t leave, call 911.
Always check to see who is knocking at your door. Remember, you
don't have to let anyone you don't know in. The person who is
soliciting should have photo identification from the City of
Wilsonville.
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