Door-to-door sales are perfectly legal, but it’s important to be aware of your rights. Most notably with door-to-door purchases, you have three business days after the sale to cancel for a full refund if you spent $25 or more.

This rule applies to any sale made in person at your home or workplace, or at a seller’s rented facility, such as a hotel room, convention center, fairground, restaurant, etc. – with limited exceptions.

Door-to-Door Sales Regulations

Door-to-door salespeople are required to:

• explain your cancellation rights at the time of sale.
• provide you with two copies of a cancellation form (one to submit and one for your records).
• give you a copy of the contract or receipt.
• refund your money within 10 days after you submit a written notice of cancellation.

The contract or receipt must:

• provide the date of the transaction.
• include the seller’s name and contact information.
• explain your cancellation rights.
• be in the same language that’s used in the sales presentation.

Tips for Door-to-Door Sales

• Don’t be fooled by limited-time offers.
  • Legitimate offers are always valid beyond the immediate time a salesperson is at your door. Don’t let them pressure you into signing up for a time-sensitive offer.
• Be watchful for aggressive tactics.
  • It can be easier to say “no” at the doorstep than inside your house. If a salesperson refuses to leave or continues pressuring you to make a purchase, call the police.
• Shut the door.
  • It’s a salesperson’s job to sell you merchandise – whether you need it or not. If you don’t want to buy a product, you don’t have to.

Common products sold door-to-door include home security systems and services like construction contracting and home repair or solicitations for charitable donations.

Learn More From the Federal Trade Commission

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