FYI: This is what I learned recently about door to door soliciters. Do not buy from them since this only helps to support this industry. 1. They use 15 passenger white vans 2. The vans may have out of state tags 3. In our case, the vans were enterprise rental vans. 4. The men are rude and aggressive 5. The men may have been flown from out of state and turned loose on streets to sale anything!!!. 6. They bring in out-of-state people to sell since it hard for them to flee the traveling sales crews. They don't have money or know anyone in the area so they are trapped. 7. Some of the men are known criminals. 8. Men have been promised that they will see the world and will make lots of money. 9. Men may be casing an area out only to return to commit burgulary. 10. White vans have been found to be linked to some crimes. Why the White van and traveling sales crews? There apparently is an increase in these type crews due to the DO-NOT-CALL list. Telemarketers have turned to traveling sales crews to earn their money. You can google traveling sales crews and locate some information on police web-sites. There is a lot of information on the internet regarding these sales crews. Our area has signs prohibiting soliciters, but they ignore the signs. We are asking the police to help run them off. If poice sees door to door salesmen they are supposed to be able to warn them or give them a ticket for soliciting. Be safe. Let them know somehow someone is home. But, don't open the door. And definitely don't buy anything from them cause they will just keep coming back for more. And have a plan and know how to react.  

Good info, hummer...Thank you for sharing! 

8. Men have been promised that they will see the world and will make lots of money. How sad is that? Pretty darn sad IMO. I was really spooked after I turned away two teenage soliciters a couple of months ago; it got a little nasty. My policy is to not answer the door but this young man told me that he was the son of one of my neighbors. I won't be fooled again. Thanks for the info, hummer. 

I had a young girl tell me that she was a neighbors dd about 3 mths ago. When I told her no-thanks she was very smart mouthed with me. 

I think I might be approaching my door with some kind of weapon like a bat, from now on...maybe they will get the idea of the "no solicitation" sign I will be putting up shortly 

After my research I was sad too for the young men. When a van of 7 men got dropped off in front of my house I was terrified. I called sheriff on them and found out that the van had just been ran off from another subdivision with a warning. I was able to give them the out-of-state license tag #. I saw not only was I a possibly victim, but some of these men were probably victims too. The men looked like they could have just been released from jail. And this is not a black/white issue either. The white men looked more like jail releases, since they had short crew cut hair and they were dressed in white. However, let the police deal with these guys. Our subdivision has an ordinance against solicitation. We have signs posted at entrances. But the vans ignore the signs. Our only option is to keep calling sheriff and let the sheriff run them off. And above all, don't buy anything from them. In this one incident, the white van came by at 2pm on a Tuesday. Seemed to be a strange time. See who's not home??? 

Had one tonight at nine pm! Had to tell them THREE times I wasn't interested! 

I had a No Solicitation sign on my front window (next to the door) but it was ignored. The rest of the story . . . The day after I was spooked by two young men soliciting we found out that our next door neighbors garage had been burglarized. My husband spoke to the police officer who took the report and and he was told to call the police if any suspicious sales people knocked on our door again. I certainly will! 

We had one in Mills Branch at 7:30 tonight. He had some sign that read some company starting with A, but all I did was turn on the porch light, talk to him through my side glass door, while he held up his sign, tell him I wasn't interested, and turn off the porch light. I didn't even listen to his crap nor did I, for sure, open the door to hear his crap! 

We had one in Mills Branch at 7:30 tonight. He had some sign that read some company starting with A, It was Aegis Alarms, they came by my house also. About 30 minutes after he left, I was driving down the road and saw a group of the young men hanging out on the corner. 

1. They use 15 passenger white vans i call those "Rapper Vans" 

I did a reverse number lookup on the flyer he gave me (yes I know I should not have opened the door) Anyway here is the info on the company; Aegis Alarms Llc 505 N Sam Houston Pkwy E Houston, TX 77060 

I'm seriously worried about this. I'm home alone alot and paranoid enough as is. Also, it doesn't help that I'm a big worrier. :/ 

I know what you are saying, but I have talked to a couple of the kids, and some do not have a GED because they are illiterate and they are just trying to make some kind of a living. It's a crying shame. 

i checked out Aegis Alarms 1. They use 15 passenger white vans They do not use 15 passenger vans you are exagerating. 7. Some of the men are known criminals. Aegis Alarms does back ground checks on everyone of their employees, and to sell alarm systems like they do they are licenced by the state and to be licenced by the state, like they are they have to pass criminal backgrounds and drug tests. 8. Men have been promised that they will see the world and will make lots of money. This is also not true with aegis alarms, the only reason they are out on the street and selling door to door is because they are a new company and want to get the word out and statistics show door to door is one of the best ways. 9. Men may be casing an area out only to return to commit burgulary. this is Not True and some do not have a GED because they are illiterate and they are just trying to make some kind of a living. It's a crying shame. you are correct about this most of them do not have geds because they are college graduates or they are going to college presently you need to get your facts straight before you post anything in a forum! 

wayne. Care to post your source 

I saw a show, don't remember which one something like 48 hours. There was a murder, and after investigating it was from a door to door soliciter. This soliciter was from another state brought in by a company. He had a jail record, and he was dropped off in this neighborhood. He found the door unlock went in, and when the lady came down from upstairs he killed her. They found some evidence found the white van at a motel, the man in charge said this guy came back saying he had emergency back home and had to go there. They had put him on a bus to go back. The cops finally did catch him, but this town was trying to legally get it where these companies cannot come in and do this. 

omg. 

I alarm myself "in" to my house...it's a shame but you have to be wise these days! 

I forgot to say not only don't answer you door, but keep your doors locked. 

Some of the religious ones are just as obnoxious as the ones selling. We just yell through the door for all of them to get heck off our properety. 

Hey I will be out some towards the end of the month into next month doing flyers but if you don't answer I just leave a flyer and go to the next place. (not trying to rob you) 

I think I might be approaching my door with some kind of weapon like a bat, from now on...maybe they will get the idea of the "no solicitation" sign I will be putting up shortly you could just call your neighbor if necessary... All "solicitors" are not as described above. I knock on doors to meet people. I'm not selling anything at the door, just making people aware that I have a business in the area and that I am there to help if they need it. I get many reactions, but I also have many people come see me---folks that wouldn't have otherwise because they don't know where I am. I see this as any other issue--make a personal choice whether or not you are going to open your door. Make a choice as to whether or not you make purchases at your door (We do not unless it is a family friend). Believe me, people that knock on doors know what they are doing. We are taught to ignore "no soliciting" signs. We also know to knock rather than ring the door bell. Solicitors ring, friends knock....if you don't answer, it won't bother me. I'll leave a brochure for you and you can call me if you like. We don't get to meet and that is a disadvantage for both of us because you are then reduced to yellow page/google searches, but such is life. I'd rather you not answer your door if you are uncomfortable. I don't want my wife to answer the door when a man knocks on it.... At the end of the day, use caution and good judgement. We aren't all doing the same thing and my clients are very happy that they answered the door...they will be for the remainder of their life too! 

Maybe the phone calls would have been better than having to deal with this. :( Thank you for the information 

wow jdb I didn't know you got out there too.Well like I said I feel better when I get to talk to someone but hey I can always just leave a flyer or a business card. 

I am glad that I have a fenced in yard with two big dogs outside, people just stand in my driveway and yell 

My dogs usually stay inside with me at night but last night I left the doggie door open so they could patrol the back yard. We may not have any solictors in the back but the possums and raccoons were persuaded to leave the area as well. 

the best way for me to meet people is to just stop by to say hello. People don't just walk into an office and when they do, how do they choose which one to go to? People appreciate the fact that I'll visit with them on their turf so to speak. They feel more comfortable in their own environment and they know there is no cost versus wondering if there will be if they come into my office. I can answer questions at your door that you might never ask if I weren't there... 

I would like to say that Anyone can hold up a sign with a companies name on it. It's up the home owner to get proper info on a company to determine if the person who came to their door is legit. Yes I understand that there are all different kinds of people who go door to door. But I find it odd that a reputable company would send someone out after dark. Or during the day when they might not catch people at home. If you are dropping a flyer off it's one thing, but to actually want to physically speak to someone is different. People just have to be careful. 

I think "Wayne" said he didn't believe my post. He needs to do some googling and check some police department websites and neighborhood watch sites. I am not talking about a specific door-to-door soliciter(someone here said Aeigis - not me!!!!) but I write from my personal experience in the past several months. A HUGE white van(I later was told it was a rental 15 passenger van - Oklahoma plates) one afternoon at 2pm, off loaded 7 men in from on my house. The one fellow said I am not selling anything. Then he pulled a spray bottle from behind his back like it was a trick and said I've got this great cleaner that can clean your door knob. Guess what I didn't give him a chance to grab the doorknob with the door open. Within the next two weeks another white van (another rental) was selling security for two different security companies. I heard conflicting reports from neighbors which security company it was and this is where I figured both groups were using the same van. Just google and search police sites and read information on neighborhood watch and your eyes will be opened regarding the door-to-door TRAVELING SALES CREWS. And it is TRUE, any one can walk up to your door holding a sign and a notepad. Even if you ask them for business cards or id, there again there is no proof that the ids are fake. Why would you let some stranger walk off the street and into your house??? And give him your personal secrets and personal information? The same goes with unsolicted telephone calls. Just because caller id says this is ???? Bank doesn't make it so. Caller id can also be spoofed. Be aware and thus be safe. And unfortunately, because of all the scammers out there it does hurt the legitmate people who are trying to build their business. But, with all of the scams how can we trust any unsolicited asking for our money or our secrets. If you see a big white van and soliciters you have their vehicle. These are most likely a TRAVELING SALESCREW. The problem is GETTING WORSE and more dangerous. 

About 30 minutes after he left, I was driving down the road and saw a group of the young men hanging out on the corner. My point is you will see groups of young men waiting for the white vans to pick them up. 

But I find it odd that a reputable company would send someone out after dark. Or during the day when they might not catch people at home. If you are dropping a flyer off it's one thing, but to actually want to physically speak to someone is different. People just have to be careful. absolutely! If we determine that after dark is bad - and it is - and we determine that during the day is bad because folks might not be home, then we've ruled out visiting. I agree with you and I understand the dangers. I wouldn't even consider knocking on someone's door when it is getting dark. The daytime on the other hand...you simply should not open your door if you are uncomfortable. I wear a suit when I'm out. I could be dangerous too. Don't answer if you're uncomfortable. At the end of the day, I own my business and I need to meet people. I feel like I am changing the world for the better and I happen to get paid to do it. I have to meet people in order to help them. If I leave a flyer on your door, unless you are specifically looking for my service, you are not going to call me. If I meet you in person, you will absolutely feel like I am a nice guy, an intelligent guy and a trustworthy guy. If you have a need, you'll talk to me. If you don't, you'll remember me when you do have a need---and you will have a need for my services. I don't expect to change anyone's opinion and I'm not sure I want to. I just want to show you how I see the opportunity. 

Flyers can be bad too. If the home owner is not home to remove the flyer. Now the house is flagged as being vacant. So, work with your neighbors and if they are on vacation please help them by removing these flyers, so their house doesn't stand out to the crooks. 

If the home owner is not home to remove the flyer. Now the house is flagged as being vacant. Very true! Plus, if the trashmen don't put back your trashcans and they sit out on the front after trash day, and the Observer and Tribune need to be picked up, too! This is a very big sign. 

I'm about as safety conscious as anyone. You guys are absolutely right and I don't want my wife answering the door either. Just use your judgement...and I'll keep knocking... 

Uh Oh! Iguess I better get out front and pick up those Observers, take those flyers off my door and mailbox and bring in the trash can! Mine is all out there and I am home. 

Mine is all out there and I am home. I knock on doors with that stuff out front too.... 

After my research I was sad too for the young men. Point well stated Hummer 

Leaving a flyers to litter my property is as inconsiderate as throwing beer cans on my front lawn. I'll be calling you to come and pick them up. 

wayne. Care to post your source yes i am one of them.