Door-to-door crews wanting you to sign contracts

Consumers are complaining to us about door-to-door sellers--with no permits--pressuring them, failing to leave, and doing shoddy work. (The I Team as WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee recently warned about an out-of-state firm selling home alarms.)

These days door-to-door salespeople want you to sign contracts for a number of different services. Know that some of these contracts have four-pages with small print that may commit you to payments for years to come.

Don’t be pressured to sign no matter what they are promising until you have carefully read the contract and have done comparison shopping with similar firms in your home town.

Sometimes the salespeople don’t have all the facts and make verbal promises that the company won’t back up. If the promise isn’t written, be skeptical.

Remember, when someone knocks on your door, your instinct for hospitality and politeness may take over and make your vulnerable.

Years ago, an Appleton bus driver told me he signed a contract for expensive windows because he wanted to go to bed and the the salesman wouldn’t leave.

I also just received a call from an Appleton area man who thinks his car may have been stolen by a salesman who stepped into his home, asking for drink of water. The car was stolen Sunday night as the home owner was going to bed. He says he knows the salesman saw his key rack.