Action Line: Check out door-to-door sales pitch

A reader: I had a salesperson knock on my door last night. He told me that he wanted to check out the heating system in my house. I just had it installed two years ago and didn’t think he needed to look at it. He told me that he was PG&E-approved and that it was a mandated program.

He wants to send a technician out to look at the furnace. Should I let him into my house?

Action Line: You should always be wary about letting strangers into your home. The old saying parents used to tell their children, “don’t talk to strangers!” is still pretty good advice.

While there are many salespeople who go door to door and represent reputable companies, there are also scammers who attempt to rip people off. So it’s up to you, the consumer, to make sure you know who you are dealing with.

So do your homework! Check them out before you spend one cent.

First of all, don’t buy in to anything without checking out their story. Get contact information from them. Ask for the name of the company, location, phone number, website or any other identifying information. Don’t forget to get the name of the person soliciting. Be sure to call the company they claim to be with and independently verify that the information provided to you is accurate.

Then go to www.bbb.org or call BBB to get a Business Review on the company. This is free unbiased information to assist you in making a wise buying decision.

BBB can usually tell you how long they have been in business, whether or not the company has any complaints, if they are licensed by the state and if that license is current and active.

If they say they are PG&E approved, call PG&E to see if they are. If the offer came unsolicited, ask for an estimate that tells you exactly what work they want to perform and how much it will cost.

Then get another price from other companies that you know and trust or have already checked out. BBB always suggests getting comparative bids on everything.

Also, if you just had the new furnace installed two years ago, you may want to check with the company that originally installed it to see if they suggest repairs or warranty work.

Don’t fall victim to high pressure sales tactics and emotional sale pitches. A trustworthy company should let you take your time to think about a purchase and compare prices before buying.

Don’t sign anything or make a payment in advance before you look over any documentation carefully.

Most door-to-door sales fall under the three-day cooling-off rule from the Federal Trade Commission. If you believe you were misled or deceived into signing a contract, file a complaint with BBB or the FTC.

If you would like to learn more about the cooling-off rule, you can go to http://fblinks.com/cooloff or you can contact the FTC at (877) 382-4357.

This story was originally published July 20, 2015 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Action Line: Check out door-to-door sales pitch."