Warning Signs that the Door-to-Door Salesman May Be Hiding Something (Part 3)
Last week we were discussing the door-to-door salesman. We talked about the door-to-door salesmen of old and the suspicious looking character that showed up on my door step over the Fourth of July weekend. If you need a refresher, you can read it here.
This week, we'll take a look at three warning signs that the door-to-door salesman may be hiding something.
I gave the driveway coating salesman that showed up on my doorstep the boot, but not all my neighbors did the same. Three of my (elderly) neighbors had their driveways seal coated by this mysterious guy. The driveways had definitely been treated with something because they were dark and shiny, but with what material they’d been treated is anyone’s guess. Scammers have been known to spread motor oil over driveways to give them that brand-new look instead of using proper sealing materials. Plus, the contractor did all three driveways rather quickly...
I’m not saying the company isn’t legit or that the guy didn’t do a good job or use proper materials, I’m just saying that he raised enough red flags in my mind for me to stay away.
Here are the warning signs that triggered danger in my mind—and others that you should watch out for, too, when you find yourself face to face with a door-to-door salesman.
- Vague business credentials. The business card of the guy who wanted to seal my driveway did not list a local address (or any address at all!) or local phone number, only a toll-free 888 number. What’s more, there was no website address, only a generic Yahoo! contact email, and no contractor license information.
- Poorly marked (or unmarked) company vehicle. Scammers will often buy cheap magnetic signage and slap it on the side of a rented vehicle to make it look like a company car.
- Requesting cash payment or check made out in their name—and requiring it upfront. Scammers will oftentimes pressure you into paying with cash (because it’s untraceable) or with a check made out in their name (because it’s easy to take to the bank and cash). And they might ask for it upfront: all the easier to run off with before any work is done. Do not cave to pressure to pay upfront. In fact, if they do request any sort of payment up front, send them packing---pronto!
Stay tuned for the next post, when we discuss three more warning signs of a potentially shady door-to-door salesman. In the meantime, feel free to read some of our other posts.
Read Part Four