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Not all door-to-door sales people are scammers. As the weather improves, so do the conditions under which door-to-door salespeople work. Many offer services and products which are both a convenience and benefit to consumers. Here are a couple of very simple rules:

- Municipalities in our area almost uniformly require people in sales to obtain a license to sell door-to-door. Sales people MUST show you the credential issued to them by the municipality. Be sure to write down their name and badge number. Anyone who tells you they don’t need one, politely thank them, tell them not to come back, shut the door and call the police and report them. This will keep you safe and protect our community.

- Be careful about who you open your door to. Make sure you can see who is outside your door. Use a peephole, or a side window. If someone won’t stop knocking (or pounding), call 911. Local law enforcement is very responsive to calls like this.

- If you decide to do business with vendors who offer services, make sure they accept CREDIT CARDS using chip readers. REMEMBER: NO DEBIT CARDS. Know the difference! Today, almost anyone selling goods and services can get a device that reads the chip on your CREDIT CARD, and process a charge. DON’T allow anyone to copy down your credit card number, the expiration date of your card, or your three or four-digit security code. If they ask for it, end the transaction immediately.

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MY STORY: If a contractor doesn’t accept credit cards using a chip reader for deposits and final payments, I don’t do business with them. Last summer, just once, I violated my own rule. The company checked out. I liked the guy; he seemed like he’d do a good job on my project. I read the contract carefully, and asked which credit cards he accepted. He firmly said “none” and launched into a tortured explanation as to why he didn’t accept any cards. I immediately began to feel uneasy.

My faith in the positive elements of human nature often put me in a bind. I told the guy I wanted to think about the terms of his contract overnight, and that I would call him first thing in the morning. With hesitation, I gave him a check, and guess what? He immediately ran to the bank and cashed the $10,000 check, without my permission and against my instructions. Of course, I didn’t know this at the time.

That night I carefully re-read the contract. I decided I didn’t want to continue with the transaction. I immediately emailed and texted him to cancel the contract. I got no response. Now the red flags were flying.

I called my bank and placed a “stop payment” on the check. It’s a good thing I did. The check was presented for payment, bright and early the next day — and refused. Lucky me! I never heard from the contractor again. Had I not taken immediate action, he could have been down the road with my money.

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LAWN SERVICES: Week-to-week lawn services are great, just don’t get hooked into any contract. Pay your lawn service weekly or at least monthly — on-time.

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HOUSE PAINTING: Remember, get a contract. You specify the paint and grade of the paint. Also make sure you understand the preparation of the surface to be painted. Be careful to read the portion on “Driveway and Pavement Work” below. All the same conditions, terms and provisos appy. If you have questions, call me before you hand over money or sign a contract.

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DRIVEWAY AND PAVEMENT WORK: “I’m in your neighborhood…” If someone knocks on your door with this spiel, I strongly suggest you say “no thank you” and shut the door. This is a classic come-on to entice homeowners to be lured into handing over money for workmanship that could be bad or an outright scam.

Some really bad “blacktop” scammers actually use a thin paint-like substance that makes your blacktop look new — until the first rain. Then all the black disappears down the storm drain.

If you need concrete or blacktop work one, call a local contractor; one who’s licensed and insured , and don’t forget to have a CONTRACT signed and dated, by you AND the contractor. A BID is NOT a contract.

Also, never pay more than 50 percent down and then the rest only when the job is completed — to YOUR satisfaction. Also, insist that all warranties and guarantees are in writing.

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ADA* CAN GIVE YOU GAS — OR NOT: Much to their credit, many local gas stations assist their disabled customers by offering to pump their gas. In that our area does attract retirees, we probably have a relatively large population of disabled retirees.

The problem is that to get assistance, the driver must let the in-store personnel know they need help. If you are disabled as I sometimes am, it’s very difficult, from the driver’s seat, to push the “help” button on the pump.

The next problem is, once you get someone to come out and help you, in order to initiate the flow of gas, the attendant needs your credit or debit card. If your card is a debit card, many stations advertise that you get the lower “cash price.” The problem is, you have to give the attendant your personal and private PIN number so that they can enter it.

I DON’T GIVE MY PIN NUMBER TO NOBODY!

Here’s a suggestion to the merchant: Offer a detachable PIN pad, like at the liquor store, so that drivers can enter their own PIN number without giving it to a stranger.

While it’s admirable and legal to assist those covered by the ADA, why should drivers with disabilities only be able to safely give the attendant a credit card and be denied the lower cash price? It sounds like unintentional discrimination to me. I’m sure when those in charge of procedures at various gas stations think about this, they will work to immediately solve the problem.

While ADA is a worthwhile law, ADA claims of discrimination can be lengthy, expensive and complicated. It’s much better for us all to work together to fix this inequity.

* Americans with Disabilities Act

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REMEMBER BILL BROOKS: “He’s On Your Side”

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I have many more interesting cases. Call me at (208) 699-0506, email me at brookshomes@gmail.com. Also include your full name and a phone number. I am available to speak about consumerism to schools, and local and civic groups.

Bill Brooks is the CDA Press Consumer Advocate. He is an active Real Estate Broker and owner of Bill Brooks, Real Estate LLC, in Coeur d’Alene.