The Financial and Consumer Services Commission of New Brunswick is warning New Brunswickers about aggressive, high pressure sales tactics from door to door salespeople.
Director of Consumer Affairs Alaina Nicholson says door to door salespeople must have a current licence from the FCNB in order to sell their products.
“It would have the FCNB logo on it, it’s got their full details, and the company that they work for,” says Nicholson. “The type of product that their application gives them the authority, I suppose, to sell, and it’s going to have the director’s signature, and an expiry date on it.”
Nicholson says you have to be given sufficient time to read the contract, as well as a physical copy.
“There are requirements within the legislation that you be provided a copy of the contract because any direct sale comes with a cancellation provision, that gives the consumer time to reconsider the purchase, and potentially tell the company they would like to return the product.”
Nicholson continues by saying in cases like that, you must be very careful and read the contract carefully as if you do decide to return the item, you may be held financially responsible for the installation and removal of the product.
Furthermore, Nicholson says if you aren’t provided a copy of the contract, “you are entitled to extended cancellation rights for up to a year, so it’s one important part of consumer protections that you do get a copy, and that if you don’t, you do have some extra provisions available to you.”
Nicholson says a good rule of thumb is that if a deal sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
