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Maine.gov > All Press Releases > State Agencies Issue Consumer Alert Urging Check on Door-to-Door Home Repair and Selling of Merchandise

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MAINE DEPARTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL
AND FINANCIAL REGULATION

35 SHS, Augusta, Maine 04333

 
Phone: (207) 624-8500
Fax: (207) 624-8690
TTY: (888) 577-6690

State Agencies Issue Consumer Alert Urging Check on Door-to-Door Home Repair and Selling of Merchandise

 

June 30, 2009

 

 

Maine’s Department of Professional and Financial Regulation and the Office of Attorney General are urging consumers to use caution when purchasing merchandise such as magazines or home repair services from door-to-door salespersons. The state’s consumer alert is being issued in response to police investigations of separate incidents in Portland, Bangor, Auburn and Lincoln involving the door-to-door sales of magazine subscriptions and driveway paving services.

Commissioner Anne L. Head and Attorney General Janet T. Mills are reminding consumers to check the license status of any door-to-door seller of products or services, and to report concerns or possible violations of law to local police officials and the Attorney General’s Office. Door-to-door sellers are typically required to be licensed through the Office of Licensing and Registration at the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation. Home repair contractors soliciting outside their home municipality and transient merchandise sellers without a permanent Maine address must be licensed.

“Maine consumers need to be aware that home repair and door-to-door selling scams may be more prevalent this time of year,” Commissioner Head and Attorney General Mills commented. “We should all be cautious and well-informed when purchasing products or agreeing to repairs from individuals who show up at our homes.”

The Office of Licensing and Registration’s Transient Sellers Program and the Door-to-Door Home Repair Seller Program maintain and provide public access to license status information. They also compile and make available a history of disciplinary actions taken against licensees. These licensing programs can be contacted by telephone at 207-624-8624 or online at www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/.

The Office of Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division can be reached by calling 800-436-2131. Information about a variety of financial fraud and scams is available on the Attorney General’s website at www.maine.gov/ag/consumer.

Unlicensed door-to-door sellers can obtain information about become licensed by visiting www.maine.gov/pfr/professionallicensing/professions/doortodoor/repair.htm.

Last Updated: July 2, 2009 1:40 PM