Photo by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Though many door-to-door salespeople operate honestly and represent reputable businesses, there are others who are only looking to make a sale and move on as quickly as possible — often leaving customers wondering if they’ll receive the product or service they’ve paid for or if they have just been scammed.

The Better Business Bureau Serving Wisconsin (BBB) offers the following tips to make sure you are dealing with a reputable solicitor:

Ask for identification. A reputable seller will provide you with all of the information you request, including a photo ID and a business card containing the business name, address, and phone number.

Verify the individual and the business. If you’re interested in doing business with the solicitor, get everything in writing. Tell the solicitor you will look into it and get back to them if interested.

Read the contract. Make sure you understand and agree to all of the terms and conditions before signing a contract. Watch out for high-pressure sales tactics.

Inquire about licensing. The city of Milwaukee requires a salesperson to have a license. Ask the salesperson to show you his or her solicitor’s license.

Know your rights. The Federal Trade Commission’s Three-Day Cooling-Off Rule gives the customer three days to cancel purchases over $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 business to cancel the agreement. By law, the business must give customers a refund within 10 days of receiving the cancellation notice.

Consumers who have issues with door-to-door salespeople can contact their local police department. File a complaint with BBB using our online complaint form. Learn about scams in your area and report scams to our BBB Scam Tracker.