The Consumer Action Handbook

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