Solicitors in the Villages. What are you gonna do when they come for you?

[Talk Host]

The state of Florida sells a license for door to door solicitation. The Villages says door to door solicitation is not allowed.

If a solicitor, with a license, comes to your door, what can you do? Community Watch has no authority to kick him out. Neither the police nor the sheriff are going to enforce The Villages restrictions.

We have an important election coming up soon. Many members of congress will be running for office. If a candidate comes to your door to ask for your vote, what will you do? What can you do? No police officer in his right mind will stop a candidate from exercising his most precious form of freedom of speech.

I am real curious. What can be done? :shrug:

[ajbrown]

For solicitors I will call the sheriff (or CW) and let them sort it out.

For politicians, can you be more specific about which one :jester:?

[Talk Host]

For solicitors I will call the sheriff (or CW) and let them sort it out.

I doubt that either will respond.

[ajbrown]

From my experience; this is our third winter (Oct 1 - Jun 1) in TV and I have not had anyone knock on the door trying to sell me something.

When we first bought our home, the neighborhood was a buzz with lawn care, bug, etc. folks, but I cannot think of any since then.

What would I do if someone knocked on my door now? I would be extremely suspicious of what they had to sell and why there were at my door. I would watch where they went next for my neighbors and I suspect I would alert someone as it is out of the ordinary. TH, you may be right that the CW or the Sheriff would not respond, but most likely that is how I would handle it.

[graciegirl]

From my experience; this is our third winter (Oct 1 - Jun 1) in TV and I have not had anyone knock on the door trying to sell me something.

When we first bought our home, the neighborhood was a buzz with lawn care, bug, etc. folks, but I cannot think of any since then.

What would I do if someone knocked on my door now? I would be extremely suspicious of what they had to sell and why there were at my door. I would watch where they went next for my neighbors and I suspect I would alert someone as it is out of the ordinary. TH, you may be right that the CW or the Sheriff would not respond, but most likely that is how I would handle it.

I absolutely and completely agree with you. What really bothers me about the presumption of a lot of people soliciting door to door and about crime being rife here, both incorrect, is that the people who haven't yet moved here or even have yet to come here for a life style visit will be misinformed. I am so proud of this wonderful, clean and safe place. Please those of you who have not yet been here, just come and see for yourself.

[zcaveman]

Tell them to take a hike.

[chuckster]

Been here 7 years (in 2 different villages) and have had one (1) solicitation and it was for tree pruning. For me and present neighbors it's a non-issue not worthy of concern....My reply if it happens again (which I doubt) would be the same as to the tree pruners, "no thanks, good bye".:wave:

[Bogie Shooter]

I have had one person come knocking at the door, wanted to trim our palms.
Said "no thank you and closed the door". Not an issue with me or our neighbors.

[Bryan]

Been here going on seven years now and had only a very few door-to-door callers. In almost all cases, it was someone already working in the neighborhood and they decided to try to drum up a little more business while they were here.

There was a recent warning in The Daily Sun about a new door-to-door scam around medical insurance. Their story is that the new Obamacare medical insurance has a very limited "open enrollment" period and you need to sign up for your new health care insurance right away - like while we are standing here at your door. Not a word of truth to it! Don't let anyone pressure you into a real bad health care decision.

To answer the question asked, I say "No Thank You" and, in the past, that has been enough. They leave. If I ever suspected they were other than workers just taking advantage of already being in the area on another job (i.e. if they were magazine sales, medical insurance sales, vacuum cleaner sales, water purification system sales, etc.) I would call CW. I know they can't throw them out of TV but I think they follow along and watch them and attempt to frustrate them until the leave the area.

One thing I have not done in the past (but I will now) is ask to see their state license for door-to-door sales. That law (FS 501.022 (8) states "Every permitholder shall carry the permit and certificate required by this section at all times while engaged in home solicitation sales and shall display the same to all prospective buyers before initiating the solicitation of a sale, lease, or rental." If they don't have said permit, they ARE breaking the law and you can call the Sheriff's Department to report an unlicensed door-to-door salesperson in the area. That should get a response from the police but, I will admit, it will not be at the top of their priority call list so the salesperson will probably have plenty of time to evacuate the area before a deputy arrives.

I don't think this applies to political or religious solicitations as they are not "selling" anything tangible - only themselves or their beliefs.:mad:

[Ooper]

I live in Santiago and typically get somebody knocking on my door for weeding, trimming trees or house washing about every other month. I just tell them I am not interested.

[l2ridehd]

Shoot them, drag them across the doorsill, call the police for a B&E. :jester:

[Whatever]

How do you know if they're casing the neighbohood for some other nefarious deed. Me thinks it would be better to get a license plate number or call CW ASAP.

[Bucco]

I absolutely and completely agree with you. What really bothers me about the presumption of a lot of people soliciting door to door and about crime being rife here, both incorrect, is that the people who haven't yet moved here or even have yet to come here for a life style visit will be misinformed. I am so proud of this wonderful, clean and safe place. Please those of you who have not yet been here, just come and see for yourself.

You are so correct Gracie.....I came to this thread out of curiousity since in my 10 years here in the Villages, never had one single person rap on the door and solicit..certainly not a politician.

Most candidates use the mail stations to make contact with voters here in The Villages !

[jim1941]

I had two salesmen come to my door and said that they were opening a carpet cleaning business in Leesburg. They said they would clean my living room carpet for free and that in the future whenever I wanted my carpets cleaned to call them. I let them in the house and the next thing you know, they are trying to sell me a Kirby Vacuum cleaner for $2,795.00. I said no and the price went down and down and down to a final price of $1,295.00. They finally took no as my final answer and left.

I worked in a prison for several years and I felt like I was being squeezed by a couple of former inmates. Beware of the Kirby salesmen disguised as a local carpet cleaning company. My living room carpet does look nice.

[dfn8tly]

12ridehd - - - BRAVO!

I'm with you! Since I don't own a gun can I call you to come over and do the shooting? I'll help with the dragging, but don't let them bleed on my carpet. Better yet, I could send them to your house.

I'm a full time resident and I've never had anyone knocking on my door. I would be very suspicous of anyone who did and certainly would not let them in my home. I feel very safe in TV.

[marianne237]

We had 2 people at our door within the last week who were Village residents (they said) and were trying to do missionary work for their church. They also went to other doors in our neighborhood (Poinciana). It only bothered me because I have my religion and beliefs and felt it was an intrusion of my privacy to have someone try to convince me theirs was better.

[dillywho]

I had two salesmen come to my door and said that they were opening a carpet cleaning business in Leesburg. They said they would clean my living room carpet for free and that in the future whenever I wanted my carpets cleaned to call them. I let them in the house and the next thing you know, they are trying to sell me a Kirby Vacuum cleaner for $2,795.00. I said no and the price went down and down and down to a final price of $1,295.00. They finally took no as my final answer and left.

I worked in a prison for several years and I felt like I was being squeezed by a couple of former inmates. Beware of the Kirby salesmen disguised as a local carpet cleaning company. My living room carpet does look nice.

I bet these are same ones that were operating in Summerhill a few weeks back but these ones said they were opening a business in Southern Trace Shopping Center, just down a couple of doors from Publix. (I don't think there's any vacant space.) They came with a multi-pack of paper towels in hand which they would give you for free to let them come in and clean the carpet in one room. Contrary to what some of you think, they are operating in TV. Yes, I do keep my doors locked and my alarm set in chime mode until I leave or lock up for the night when I set it to "armed". Am I paranoid, no; cautious, yes.

Those towels might not end up to be so free after all, so beware. No, this is not one of your "urban legends", either. They came to my door, and I found out later that they were in fact selling Kirby vacuums. I also found out that the rest of their tale turned out to be that they were from another country working their way through colleges in Florida. Nobody I have talked to around here bought from them, though. Maybe they've managed to sell some and that's why they're still operating within TV.

Just so you know, the ones that came by here were a young woman and two young men and were nicely dressed.

[BobKat1]

We had a small, but visable "No Solicitors" sign on the sidelight of the front door. Sometimes they'd see it and leave, other times they'd ring the doorbell anyway. When that happened I'd just refer them to the sign.

This was in our previous home where we seemed t have an unusual number of solictors in the area.

[batman911]

After finally being fed up with being interupted by annoying sales people, I posted the following sign below my door bell:

NO soliciting, sales, fund raising, free demonstrations, church people or politicians. Failure to comply with this request will be taken as a challenge to a 100 yard race with the boys (see picture below). They have never lost a race.

Picture below is of two large black dogs with large teeth. I do not have the dogs but they offending person does not know that. I have not had one sales person ring the door bell in years.

[TrudyM]

Shoot them, drag them across the doorsill, call the police for a B&E. :jester:

Did you ever live in South America? My parents who had lived for awhile in Colombia said that they were told to wait untill the theif was on the inside of the walls (all homes are walled with a central courtyard) if you shot him on the top and he fell outside you where a murder on the inside no one carred.

I assume you were joking this is the US after all.

We have lived many places and door to door sellers are everywhere. Around here the ones that don't take no for an answer are those fueled by their religious fevor, those that assume that their religion is better than yours, my soul doen't need saving thank you very much.

[bkcunningham1]

If I'm not mistaken, Florida has a "Stand Your Ground" law. It expands the use of deadly force for the protection of your life inside your home without having to try and escape law that most US state have. This Stand Your Ground Law allows you to use deadly force to defend yourselve in public, in automobiles or at work, for instance, without trying to escape.

[Talk Host]

If I'm not mistaken, Florida has a "Stand Your Ground" law. It expands the use of deadly force for the protection of your life inside your home without having to try and escape law that most US state have. This Stand Your Ground Law allows you to use deadly force to defend yourselve in public, in automobiles or at work, for instance, without trying to escape.

I hardly think that somebody asking to cut your grass calls for deadly force.

[bkcunningham1]

Sorry, I guess I sorta hi-jacked the post trying to respond to TrudyM referring to a couple of other posters who jested.

[redwitch]

Well, I do carry, so I guess I could use the Stand Your Ground law to take care of them problem, but I really prefer gentler methods.

So, if religious, I explain I'm a witch (not really but whatever works) and that I'd be happy to listen to their spiel/go to their church with the proviso that they listen to my spiel or attend my coven meeting (we're always short on human sacrifices).

If a sales person, I try to barter with them. They really hate that.

If a politician, I usually explain I'm not a U.S. citizen (I have dual citizenship, so I'm not really lying) and not interested in becoming one. I did have one knock on my door during the presidential elections. I shut him up quite quickly when I said I was a diehard liberal from California. He left without even leaving me a flyer or asking that I vote.

[graciegirl]

After finally being fed up with being interupted by annoying sales people, I posted the following sign below my door bell:

NO soliciting, sales, fund raising, free demonstrations, church people or politicians. Failure to comply with this request will be taken as a challenge to a 100 yard race with the boys (see picture below). They have never lost a race.

Picture below is of two large black dogs with large teeth. I do not have the dogs but they offending person does not know that. I have not had one sales person ring the door bell in years.

I think that is an excellent idea, however, may I ask, is it at your address in The Villages or your Hawaii address that this happened?

[batman911]

Graciegirl

Unfortunately, it is my residence in Hawaii. I believe Hawaii may be the school project fundraising and Mormon chruch recruiting capital of the world. I have had to ban the selling of fund raising products in my office at work because employees without school age children complain about being pressured by their co-workers.

[TrudyM]

Graciegirl

Unfortunately, it is my residence in Hawaii. I believe Hawaii may be the school project fundraising and Mormon chruch recruiting capital of the world. I have had to ban the selling of fund raising products in my office at work because employees without school age children complain about being pressured by their co-workers.

All the kids going to the Mormon college on the north shore either have to work in the cultural center tourist attraction or fundraise door to door. In Hawaii people pretending to be Palm tree trimmers are quite often casing the place. They wouldn't hit you over the head to rob you but cleaning out your place not a second thought. I found the attitude of you have and I don't so you owe me "Bra" (Hawaiian pronounciation of Bro) to be the norm.

Off topic but Hawaii is also the collect $5 to give your coworker a gift capital. It includes birthdays, kids graduations, aniversaries, she had the flu, her husband left her and on and on. Everyone ends up with tons of junk they never wanted to sell at the swap meet.

[tap190]

Twice in the past month two people have come to my door and tried to sell me stuff, First it was a teenager who was selling magazine subscriptions and then yesterday (friday) a guy selling "frozen" seafood who stated "I just made a delivery up the street and have some left,I can make you a good deal'. I didn't think solicitation was allowed in TV, anyone else experiencing the same problem . Do we have security in TV ? I called Community Watch to report the incident and was told that "we're dealing with a water problem right now so you'll have to handle that yourself" !!!!!! GREAT !

[Tom Hannon]

WE can always start a thread on TOTV and warn everyone about the solicitation. Everyone get together and send warning signals to not vote for the guy.

[uujudy]

Graciegirl

Unfortunately, it is my residence in Hawaii. I believe Hawaii may be the school project fundraising and Mormon chruch recruiting capital of the world. I have had to ban the selling of fund raising products in my office at work because employees without school age children complain about being pressured by their co-workers.

Batman, I'll bet you're in second place. I moved here from Utah. ;)

[Tom Hannon]

How about putting up a sign that says, I shoot every third salesman who comes to my door. The second one left yesterday.

[Bryan]

I would not take the "Busy - major water main break" response from CW. Although it was true (for the most part), it does not abrogate their responsibilities to TV residents. That snide answer shows a completely uncaring attitude towards residents. I do not think the powers-that-be at CW would tolerate any Dispatcher with that attitude. I urge you to lodge a formal, in writing complaint with Chief Tucker of our Public Safety Department - he is the titular head to CW. Look how many posts in this thread say call CW about solicitors. And they blow off people who call like that? I don't think that is right and should not go unreported.

[ajbrown]

How about putting up a sign that says, I shoot every third salesman who comes to my door. The second one left yesterday.

Tom, please check your deed restrictions, no signs allowed:1rotfl:

[zcaveman]

Tom, please check your deed restrictions, no signs allowed:1rotfl:

So Tom writes it on his doormat or sticks it in his window. Works for me.

[Tom Hannon]

LOL. But will it work for the salesman?

[swrinfla]

:agree: wholeheartedly with Bryan: Mike Tucker should know about such an attitude from Community Watch folks.

The last solicitor who came to my door was told, in no uncertain terms, "Soliciting in The Villages is NOT allowed. I suggest you get off this street before I call the sheriff." The guy left the immediate vicinity very quickly. That was three or so years ago; haven't seen any solicitors since. Maybe they were always the third one? :1rotfl:

SWR
:beer3:

[batman911]

uujudy, you are correct. Utah would have more Mormon recruiting. Every year a new wave. This month it is the politician supporters hanging junk on my front door and mail box.

[Talk Host]

WE can always start a thread on TOTV and warn everyone about the solicitation. Everyone get together and send warning signals to not vote for the guy.

I sure hope you're not talking about candidates for office. "Not voting" for a guy because he is trying to reach the voters is the wrong attitude. At this time in history we are keenly focused on who we should elect and who we should remove.

In my opinion the candidate who best takes their story to the people is the one I will consider "voting for."

These are the people who control our lives, our fortune and our country. I for one would welcome the opportunity to spend a few minutes of one on one time with a candidate who knocks on my door.

There are complaints about candidates:

Going door to door

Putting up signs

Running too many commercials

Handing out literature.

Then their are complaints that we don't like the person who was elected.

I don't get it.