Pretty awesome stuff right? I'm going to make a ton of dough this summer! I don't get a base salary, but I do make $400 to $500 every time I get you to sign up. So, I have a lot of motivation to keep bugging and pressuring you. We don't have a local office and the door to door home security company rents us a house or pays for our hotels, so I don't have a lot of living expenses. Sweet!

Sometimes I pretend that I work for your current security company and I offer you a free upgrade. "I'm Alex with (Your Existing Security Company". People can be so gullible when they think they're getting something for free. I'm actually going to trick you into signing up with my door to door alarm company and you will be left paying two bills. Doesn't matter to me though - I'm only working with my door to door security company for the summer and you will never see me again.

My all time favorite approach is to make it sound like you are doing me a favor. "I'm Alex with (Door to Door Alarm Company). We're in town for a few days and we're doing a blitz and I would like your help. If you're willing to put a warning sign in a visible location it will create more awareness and help us generate more business. In exchange I can give you a free state-of-the-art security system worth $2000. All you have to do is take care of the small monthly fee of $49.95 a month." People love to help and they love free. I can't believe how many people get sucked in.

Sometimes I offer a two week free trial. This is legit, but most people don't know there is a CONSUMER PROTECTION law that allows any consumer signing a contract the right to cancel within 10 or 14 days. It's called a Buyers Right to Cancel and it's on every one of our contracts. The darn government forces us to do this! 

I often tell people it's a month to month subscription, but in reality it's a 4 or 5 year contract. You're on the hook for nearly $3000 every time you sign up. However, most people trust me instead of reading through the contract. And for the people that question the 5 year term? Easy, I just tell them they can cancel anytime (even though they can't). The collections team at my head office will deal with it. Who's going to cancel if they're about to be sent to a collection agency? I won't be here anyways so not my problem.

HOW TO MAKE ME GO AWAY   

About the only thing that works is to put up your hand and firmly say "NO". I'm going to try to prevent you from closing the door, but if you just keep saying "NO" eventually I will take you off my hit list. Sometimes you have to threaten to call the POLICE. How ironic is that - calling the POLICE on a home security company.

It's also frustrating to me when people share their stories on FaceBook and other social media sites. I spent a lot of time figuring out ways to deceive people and I don't like it when I'm exposed or people advertise what area I'm working in. One lady took out her phone and started recording me - no thanks.  

#meetalex #justsayno #alarmscam #doortodoorsales

*Alex isn't a real person. If you know an Alex please be kind to him.

For more information do yourself a favor and do a Google Search of "door to door alarm scam" and always get 3 quotes. Please share.

Author: Virgil Reed
Owner of Reed Security
20+ Years Security Experience
Family Man
Community Leader

The Pressure:

• Sales person won't leave even when you tell them to "Leave"
• Sales person won't leave when you tell them "No Thanks"
• Sales person won't leave when you say "I Already Have Your Products or Service"
• Sales person name drops the name of your neighbor and makes it sound like "they signed up" or "they bought one" or "they referred me to you"
• Sales person comes to the house several times and won't leave you alone

·        The Solutions:

• Put Up Your Hand and "Say NO".
• Immediately close the door and the sales person will eventually leave.
  Tell them "You are Trespassing" and that you are calling the BBB Better Business Bureau, Consumer Protection Branch and the Police if they do not leave.
• BBB 1-888-352-7601, Consumer Protection 1-877-880-5550, Saskatoon Police 306-975-8300, RCMP (Saskatoon) 306-975-5173 or call your Local Detachment
• Always Get 3 Quotes for whatever you consider purchasing. This gives you the time to gather information and to check if the "deal" being presented to you is the best option.
• Never Accept Quick Delivery of a product or service. This gives you a cooling off period and more time to gather facts.

• If you did proceed with the offer You Have 10 Days to Change Your Mind and CANCEL (and get a full refund). It's the Law in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
• Create Awareness and Share on Social Media
• Contact the local media