Pinellas: Take Caution With Home Solicitation Sales

CLEARWATER, FL – Door-to-door salespeople may be a convenient way for people to purchase goods and services. However, Pinellas County is warning is residents to be careful with these one-on-one transactions.

Pinellas County warned residents about engaging in home solicitation sales. The county’s Office of Consumer Protection has received an increased number of complaints resulting from these types of sales.

The most frequently reported complaint to the Office of Consumer Protection was that the product or service sold was not delivered or the work was of poor quality, according to Pinellas County officials.

“These types of sales can cause financial harm to consumers and could result in identity theft,” and Pinellas County Consumer Protection Operations Manager Doug Templeton. “A home solicitation sale does not give the buyer time to research the product or company, therefore consumers are not aware of who they are conducting business with. This poses safety concerns as well as possible damage to the home in cases of home repair services.”

Pinellas County reported door-to-door solicitation has become more frequent among salespeople and scammers alike. The solicitors have offered everything from home repair services and alarm systems to the sale of meat.

According to Florida Statutes in Chapter 501.021, people who engage in (or who supervise minors engaged in) certain door-to-door solicitation activities that sell, lease or rent consumer goods or services with a purchase price in excess of $25 are required to obtain a permit issued by the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Conducting home solicitation sales without a permit can result in criminal penalties.

According to the law, a home solicitation occurs anywhere outside of the seller’s fixed location and must be unsolicited.

In order to obtain a home solicitation permit, individuals must pay a fee and pass a criminal background check. Consumers are protected by the following rules:

• All home solicitation sellers must provide the buyer with a written contract
• The contract must include the buyer’s signature, date and buyer’s right to cancel clause
• Home solicitation laws allow buyers a three-day right to cancel from the date contract is signed.

Pinellas County encourages residents to call Consumer Protection at (727) 464-6200 if they suspect a violation of home solicitation sales. The office provides assistance in the resolution of consumer-business disputes, investigates allegations of criminal violations, educates and informs consumer and business communities regarding existing consumer protection laws and regulates high-prescribing health clinics, bingo and adult-use ordinances.

For more information, visit www.pinellascounty.org/consumer.

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