[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?

[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 ?

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

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]

Originally Posted by 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.

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".

[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.

[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.

[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]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

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.