INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) – An Indianapolis man said he wants other people to be aware after a bad experience with an overly pushy door-to-door salesman.
Scotty Myers said a woman knocked on his door Wednesday asking if he would help test a product. When he said yes, the woman left, and another man came inside with a Kirby vacuum cleaner.
“It was $2,499,” said Myers. “He was saying ‘would you accept this kind of payment and this kind of offer.”
Myers said the man was in his house for over an hour and a half and at one point Myers said he had concerns for his own safety.
“I was a little worried that he might get aggressive because he was saying that he was in the military and he was shot and he has killed a man,” Myers said.
After repeatedly telling the salesman 'no' and finally asking him to leave, Myers said the man left but still waited outside his home for another half hour waiting on a ride.
Below is information from the Office of the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division to help consumers know their rights when it comes to contracts and purchases.
Understanding your right to cancel:
- You do not need a reason to cancel. If you wish to cancel a contract that includes a right to cancel, you must cancel in the manner set forth in the notice of cancellation rights. Typically, you must notify the seller of your intent to cancel the transaction in writing.
- You cannot cancel by phone. Calling on the phone and telling the seller that you want to cancel is not legally binding on the seller, regardless of what the seller tells you.
- If you want to cancel, then do it. When you attempt to cancel a purchase, the seller may try to convince you no to. Any promises of an extended cancellation period should be obtained in writing!
- What should happen when you cancel: The seller must return any payment you made within 10 business days.
“I would say don’t trust the people wholeheartedly because if you do, you’ll end up spending an hour and a half with this stranger in your house,” said Myers.
Myers said he had never heard of this high-pressure, door-to-door tactic but believes the salesman worked for a distributor of Kirby Vacuums and not the company directly.
The Kirby Company did not respond to our requests for comment.
The Better Business Bureau has a website where you can report suspicious activities and search for possible scams in your area.
If you do end up purchasing a product and feel you may have been ripped off, Indiana does have 3-day contract cancellation period in certain circumstances where you can have your payment refunded.