The last place consumers should fall victim to a high pressure sales scam is in their own home. It's your house. You are in control. Right?? Not necessarily. Remember, you can't just walk away when feeling pressured. It's your home. Where are you going to go?? The salesman is in your house!!

Door-to-door sales have been around for decades. Many companies and their salesmen play by the rules and often times consumers have no problems consummating a purchase. But there is an underused and little known Florida law on the books to help protect consumers from those high pressure sales and con artists.

A Home Solicitation sale basically occurs when an unsolicited sale or rental of any consumer good or service over $25 occurs at a place other than the sellers fixed location - such as your home.

It is unlawful for any home solicitor to conduct such a sale without first obtaining a sales permit from the Clerk of the Circuit Court. This permit is very important because it requires the salesman to file a sworn application providing all of their personal information, a photograph and a complete set of fingerprints. The clerk will then forward this information to the Sheriff and Florida Department of Law Enforcement for criminal background checks. If a home solicitor can not show you a permit, then show them the door or call your local law enforcement agency. If they don't have a permit, who knows what the background is of the guy you just invited into your house.

All home solicitation sales must be evidenced by a written agreement. This agreement must contain the date of the transaction and the buyer's signature. This written agreement must also contain the "BUYER'S RIGHT TO CANCEL." If you did feel pressure to buy, and you are now having second thoughts about it, this important right gives you three days to cancel the sale and receive all of your money back. You must inform the business of the cancellation in writing. The safest way is to send it certified mail so that you have evidence as to when it was postmarked. They will have 10 days to return your money. In the mean time, you have to safeguard and secure any product and return it when they make arrangements to pick it up from your home. They should do this within 40 days.

A violation of the home solicitation law is a crime. There are criminal and civil penalties associated with it. If you want to know more about this consumer topic, please contact your Consumer Protection Agency.