Look Out For Deceptive Door-To-Door Sales

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Deceptive door-to-door magazine sales crews are hitting the pavement and looking to earn a quick buck this summer, according to the Better Business Bureau.

NBC 4 reported with the FAST FACTS.
In the last 12 months alone, BBB has received 1,100 complaints from consumers in 46 states and the District of Columbia against more than 50 companies that are selling magazines door-to-door.
Many of these companies employ crews of high-school and college-age people who are trying to earn money over the summer.

These crews are sent to communities to knock on doors and sell magazines, sometimes without appropriate licensing.

In the sales pitch, the representative might explain they are working to help get their lives back on track, raising money on behalf of a charity or for a school trip or even selling subscriptions to support troops in Iraq.

“Because sales representatives are typically high school or college-age, victims readily believe the potentially fictitious sales pitch and often pay several hundred dollars for the subscriptions by personal check given directly to the sales reps,” said Joan Coughlin, BBB spokesperson. “Most complaints against such companies allege that sales reps took their check and the magazines never arrived, however, some complainants also allege being subjected to high-pressure and misleading sales tactics.

“Experience tells us that customers aren’t the only victims of this scam; the young salespeople are also potentially being taken advantage of by their employers and forced to work long hours, endure substandard living conditions and have their wages withheld from them,” said Coughlin.

BBB offers the following advice to avoid getting scammed by a door-to-door magazine sales rep: Always research the company with your Better Business Bureau for free at http://www.bbb.org before filling out a check for a magazine subscription.

The Federal Trade Commission’s Three-Day Cooling-Off Rule gives the customer three days to cancel purchases for more than $25 that are made in their home or at a location that is not the seller’s permanent place of business.

Along with a receipt, salespeople should also include a completed cancellation form that customers can send to the company to cancel the agreement. By law, the company must give customers a refund within 10 days of receiving the cancellation notice.

Victims of fraudulent magazine sales can file a complaint with their Better Business Bureau at http://www.bbb.org, local law enforcement and state Attorney General offices.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
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