From pollsters to door-to-door energy salespeople, homeowners can find themselves interrupted by strangers knocking on their doors. The Do Not Knock program is a free service offered by your community and NOPEC to stop for-profit solicitors from knocking on your door. But what happens if the solicitor knocks anyway? Are these solicitors even within their rights or are they infringing on yours? Find out what you can do about it.
What Makes a Solicitor Illegal?
Door-to-door solicitors come in many shapes and sizes. They could be offering deals on magazine subscriptions, seeking donations for a charitable cause, asking for signatures on a petition, canvassing for a political campaign, selling cookies, or talking you into switching energy providers.
As a general statement, door-to-door solicitation is not an illegal activity. However, in certain capacities, it can be, even if the solicitor has a permit from the city. For example, in some cities and townships, posting a “No Soliciting” or “No Trespassing” sign on your front door or near the entrance to your neighborhood prohibits solicitors from knocking on your door. In other communities, such as those enrolled in NOPEC’s Do Not Knock program, signing up for the Do Not Knock registry, prohibits for-profit salespeople from coming to your door.
How NOPEC’s Do Not Knock Program Can Help Stop Unwanted Solicitation
The Do Not Knock program is a free service that may be offered by your local community and NOPEC to stop for-profit solicitors from knocking on your door. This means that when a salesman gets a permit to solicit in a neighborhood that is registered with the Do Not Knock program, they also receive the Do Not Knock list. It is illegal for them to solicit at homes and businesses that are listed on this registry.
What to Do if They Knock Anyway?
Some residents may be skeptical of the Do Not Knock program. Does it really work? What happens if the solicitor knocks anyway?
If you live in a NOPEC Do Not Knock community, have added your address to the Do Not Knock registry, and a salesman still comes to your door, kindly inform them that you are on the Do Not Knock registry.
Most will leave at this point and apologize for their error. If they don't, simply tell them that you will be calling the police. They already know that by approaching a home on the Do Not Knock list, they are illegally trespassing, and you are completely within your rights to call the authorities. If it’s a utility salesperson, you can also file a report with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
If the salesperson doesn’t leave, call the police immediately. Proceed with caution, though, as you may have a more serious problem on your hands than simply a persistent salesperson. Burglars and other criminals have been known to pose as solicitors in order to gain access to your property to see if there is anything worth stealing.
What About the Girl Scouts and Other Not-For-Profit Solicitors?
The Do Not Knock program is specifically aimed at unwanted for-profit salespeople. It does not prohibit people from nonprofit organizations from coming to your door. For residents who love to contribute to nonprofits like the Girl Scouts or other volunteer organizations, you won’t be shutting the door on charities. Girl Scouts are free to roam the neighborhood, taking cookie orders and runners can still seek pledges to run for a cause.
Say Goodbye to Annoying Door-to-Door Salespeople Today
Prevent unwanted annoying door to door salespersons. Signing up for NOPEC’s Do Not Knock program is easy and won’t cost you a dime.
First, check to see if you live in a NOPEC Do Not Knock community. If you live in one of our communities, simply add your address to the registry and say goodbye to being interrupted in the middle of dinner. In addition to being added to the list, you’ll also receive a Do Not Knock window cling that you can hang prominently near your front door. This will give solicitors a kind reminder that they are not welcome to visit your home.
Once a year, you'll receive a notification asking if you want to renew your Do Not Knock status. If you find that you actually enjoyed being interrupted by salespeople, you can remove your address from the list at any time.
Learn more about NOPEC’s Do Not Knock program and sign up here!
