Czech towns increasingly banning door-to-door sales

Given the growing number of salesmen who abuse the trust of elderly people in their own homes and force them into highly disadvantageous contracts, many Czech towns and cities are taking matters into their own hands and banning door-to-door sales altogether in order to protect their citizens. While door-to-door salespeople are threatening to take the matter to court, the inhabitants of these towns have welcomed the move.

Photo: Czech Television

The number of door-to-door salespeople has soared in recent years and with them the number of duped seniors who turn to the police or local administration for help after signing disadvantageous sales contracts. The problem has been getting nationwide coverage and has become so serious that many towns and cities have taken measures to protect their elderly citizens by banning door-to-door sales outright. Over twenty towns have banned or severely restricted door-to-door sales and many others are considering the move. The mayor of Miletin, Miroslav Nosek, says he made the decision after getting inundated with complaints from the public and he’s now ready to get involved in person.

“Any time people are harassed by these salespersons they can call my number and I’ll come right over and deal with the problem. I may come over with the police. Elderly people are extremely vulnerable and these salespeople have been specially trained to talk them into buying. They are extremely brazen and have no trouble invading people’s homes.”

Gradually salespeople are being ordered off more town premises. Frýdek-Místek, Jablonec nad Nisou, Sušice, Hodonín and Dobříš are just some of the towns that have banned door-to-door sales. Some have gone even further, banning salespeople from accosting people in the street to offer their wares. The town of Most, which has also banned door-to-door sales says its officers were ready to testify a rise in aggressive behaviour towards the elderly, and a police officer from Breclav says that he himself had trouble turning away a door-to-door salesman from his doorstep even after a ban was put in place.

Photo: Sebastian Schaeffer, Stock.xchng

“This door-to-door salesman tried to convince me to buy whatever he was selling. So I told him I was a local police officer and it was not allowed. He looked somewhat taken aback but he still made another sales pitch before leaving.”

Companies which specialize in door-to-door sales are outraged by the bans threatening to take the matter to court on the grounds that the towns in question are violating their business rights. However the respective mayors are not worried, saying they have the weight of public opinion behind them and numerous cases of abuse to serve in their defence. In the town of Litvinov, which has also banned door-to-door sales, you would be hard put to find a citizen critical of the decision.

Middle-aged man: “I totally agree with the decision. People can buy what they need in brick and mortar shops.”

Elderly woman: “It’s a good move. I myself was duped twice by these salespeople.”

Man: “It’s the right decision. There’s no two minds about it.”

Illustrative photo: European Commission

There’s also been a wave of criticism against the so-called demonstration excursions – trips on which elderly people are often abused and manipulated into buying overpriced products. Since the airing of a documentary called Crooks brought to light what goes on at these trips the Czech Trade Inspection has swung into action – issuing fines and organizing self-defence courses for the elderly. The Trade Ministry is even considering plans to establish a consumer ombudsman in every region who would help the victims of unruly sales practices.