Letter: Beware of door-to-door pressure tactics

Over the weekend a very presentable young gentleman rang my doorbell. There he stood wearing a company jacket, identification badge and clipboard in hand and he proceeded to tell me that he was here to check my furnace and air conditioner.

When I asked him why, as I had not called to have them checked. He said he wanted to make sure I was getting my energy credits and that depended on the age of these pieces of equipment.

He said his company worked with the government and they were going door to door in my neighbourhood and had actually already helped many of my neighbours.

When I said I wasn’t interested he informed me that this was a government requirement and he had to check these. Again I said I was not interested and he said it would only take a minute he needed to verify the sticker on my equipment.

Was I getting my rebates? Did I see the credit on my hydro bill and did I want to show him my bill? Again I said I was not interested.

After he finally left I went online and checked out the company. He did not really misinform me, he just didn’t get to the part where I needed to change my old equipment for newer more energy-saving models and to sign a 10 or more year contract with his company to rent these pieces, which at the end of the contract would profit his company enormously.

Many of the comments online were negative, and pointed to ratings from the Better Business Bureau and a lawsuit last May in Toronto. The Ontario Ministry of Consumer Affairs has them on their consumers beware list.

Once again I believe that the door-to-door person is not upfront, honest and genuine and preys on the elderly and those whose first language is not English. Consumers beware.

S. Cameron
Greater Sudbury