It's become a disheartening part of life. After a major storm or tornado, you know some people will come around looking to take advantage of storm victims. They may try to charge you too much for repairs, or they may come up with some other scheme to steal your money when you're most vulnerable.
Working with the Better Business Bureau, Ruth to the Rescue has comes up with guidelines that will work in time of crisis, and they will help you avoid any scammer who might come knocking on your door.
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The first piece of advice might be hard to take. Don't answer the door! Many people feel they need to answer the door, but if the person ringing your bell is a stranger, there's a strong chance they're selling something.
"When somebody rings my door bell at 6:30 at night, I don't answer because I know it's a solicitor," said Melanie Duquesnel, CEO of the Metro-Detroit
Better Business Bureau.
She's also a big believer in never buying something you weren't looking for just because someone comes to your door. When you do, you're skipping several steps that are designed to help you get the best deal for any goods or services.
Here are the steps to consider whenever you hear that knock on your door:
1) Avoid answering the door when you're home alone.
2) If you decide to answer the door, ask to see the person's identification. Don't ask them to come into your home.
3) Be very wary of high-pressure sales tactics. If they make claim they're offering a special deal right now, be prepared to end the conversation so you're not tempted to sign on the dotted line.
4) Try to avoid signing on the dotted line until you get at least three estimates. You should always get other quotes so you know if the offer even makes sense. You know the old saying: "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."
5) Also, you should always do your homework when deciding about a major purchase or work on your home. Check the reputation of the company. Check with the Better Business Bureau. If you skip this step, you could regret what you find out later.
6) If you make a deal, get the transaction details in writing. Get a contract that spells out all the terms and conditions.
7) Remember the "Three-Day Cooling-Off Rule." The Federal Trade Commission gives consumers three business days to cancel any transaction worth more than $25 made in their home or at a location that is not the seller's permanent place of business. Along with the receipt, the salesperson should provide a cancellation form that can be sent to cancel the deal. By law, the company must give consumers a refund within 10 days of receiving the cancellation notice.
Of course, if you are dealing with a scam artists, it will likely be very difficult to find them, much less claim a refund. That's why you cannot skip doing your homework and investigating the company BEFORE you give someone money. If they are looking to rip you off, they certainly won't respect the law requiring refunds.
Ruth to the Rescue Fights Scammers
The Ruth to the Rescue consumer unit is preparing a special event on Oct. 1st to help Metro-Detroiters fight scammers. This advice will work for all types of scams, from the fake IRS scam to fake utility shutoffs and fake sweepstakes offers. This special event will take place starting at 11 p.m. on Sept. 30th-- and will continue throughout the day on Oct. 1st.
Experts from the Better Business Bureau will be in our Local 4 studios to answer your questions about scams and how you can fight back. They will be available by phone and here at ClickOnDetroit.com.
Join us next week on Local 4 and ClickOnDetroit.com.