The Financial and Consumer Services Commission (FCNB) encourages New Brunswickers to use the following best practices when interacting with door-to-door salespeople:
- Always read the contract you are signing and be sure you fully understand it before you commit to a purchase.
- Take the time to consider the offer and shop around when purchasing goods that require a home installation. If you decide to cancel once the installation is complete, you may have to pay for the install and uninstall for the product, which could be costly and may leave your home needing repairs.
- Ask about and compare cash price, credit price, warranties and service.
- Only agree to payments that you can afford, and make sure you understand the full costs including any interest or fees.
- If you decide to go ahead with the purchase, ensure you are given a copy of the contract, which contains a statement of cancellation advising you of your right to cancel the contract within 10 days. If a you are not provided with a copy of the contract, you are entitled to extended cancellation rights for up to one year.
- Have the salesperson sign the contract before you do. You should be the last one to sign the contract and only after you have read all the details, checked that the contract details are correct (such as date and price), and you understand the content of the contract.
Consumers are urged to ask questions, to not act under pressure, to do research and to read all contracts when approached to purchase products or services from a door-to-door salesperson. When a deal sounds too good to be true, it very well could be.
Consumers who have concerns about a door-to-door salesperson should contact FCNB.