The Consumer Action Handbook
The Consumer Action Handbook
The Consumer Action Handbook
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and anti-drug and youth<br />
empowerment programs. (See<br />
page 22, charities.)<br />
● If you are solicited by youth<br />
selling items like candy and<br />
magazine subscriptions<br />
door-to-door, ask for identification<br />
verifying the<br />
name, address and purpose.<br />
22<br />
● If the representative can’t<br />
provide the information, ask<br />
them to leave. Report suspicious<br />
people to your<br />
local police department and<br />
or contact your state labor<br />
department (child labor<br />
division).<br />
● If you are satisfied with the<br />
information provided, don’t<br />
feel pressured to make a<br />
purchase or contribution.<br />
Cancellation Rights<br />
● State and federal laws<br />
may give you the right to<br />
cancel purchases made in<br />
your home of $25.00 or more.<br />
● <strong>The</strong> salesperson must tell<br />
you about your right to<br />
cancel the sale and give<br />
you two dated copies of a<br />
cancellation form showing<br />
the salesperson’s name and<br />
address and explaining your<br />
right to cancel.<br />
● To cancel, sign and date<br />
one of the cancellation<br />
notices provided to you.<br />
Send the notice by certified<br />
mail before midnight<br />
of the 3rd business day following<br />
the sale; Saturday is<br />
considered a business day<br />
but Sunday and legally recognized<br />
holidays are not.<br />
Keep the other notice of<br />
cancellation for your<br />
records.<br />
● If you were not provided<br />
with a notice of cancellation<br />
form at the time of<br />
the sale, your three days<br />
don’t start running until<br />
after you receive such<br />
notice from the seller. You<br />
may also write your own letter<br />
to cancel the order.<br />
● Once you have canceled<br />
you are entitled to a<br />
refund within 10 days. <strong>The</strong><br />
seller must also notify you<br />
of the date for product pick<br />
up, and return any trade-ins<br />
given as down payment.<br />
● Once you have canceled,<br />
the seller must pick up<br />
the product within 20<br />
days. If the seller does not<br />
pick up the product or provide<br />
a refund, you can keep<br />
the product until the seller<br />
complies, without any payment<br />
obligation.<br />
● If you paid by credit card,<br />
canceled the contract within<br />
3 days, have not yet paid<br />
the credit card bill and still<br />
have a problem getting a<br />
refund, dispute the charges<br />
with your credit card company.<br />
No Cancellation If....<br />
● You may not cancel the sale<br />
if you signed any documents<br />
waiving your right<br />
to cancel.<br />
● You may not be able to cancel<br />
the sale if you wait too<br />
long before you cancel.<br />
● You may not be able to cancel<br />
the sale if the product<br />
can’t be returned in sub-<br />
CHARITIES<br />
stantially the same condition<br />
in which you<br />
received it.<br />
Tips for Shopping Smart<br />
and Avoiding Fraud<br />
<strong>The</strong> most common problems<br />
you might encounter when<br />
shopping on the phone, online<br />
or by mail order are delayed<br />
delivery, out of stock items,<br />
incorrect items shipped, damaged<br />
items received and price<br />
changes. To avoid these problems:<br />
● Know who you are dealing<br />
with. If the company<br />
isn’t familiar to you, check it<br />
out with your local or state<br />
consumer protection<br />
● Give only to charities you know. Some con artists use names<br />
similar to well-known charities or pretend to be raising<br />
money for state or local law enforcement agencies.<br />
● Ask for written information, including how much of the<br />
money raised is actually used for charitable purposes.<br />
● Check with your secretary of state to find out if a charity is<br />
registered to solicit in your state. (See page 21, youth peddling.)<br />
agency (see page 72) and<br />
the Better Business Bureau<br />
(see page 126).<br />
● Keep records. Write down<br />
the company name, mailing<br />
address, website, or e-mail<br />
address, phone number,<br />
description of what you<br />
ordered, date, amount you<br />
paid, how you paid (check,<br />
money order, charge, etc.)<br />
and how you delivered your<br />
payment (mail, courier service,<br />
provided credit card<br />
number on phone or online,<br />
etc.).<br />
● Note the delivery period.<br />
Keep any advertisements or<br />
materials that show a specific<br />
delivery time, or write<br />
the delivery time in your<br />
records if one was promised.