Local Company May be Taking Your Money Instead of Unhealthy Minerals

Media Contact: Joan Coughlin, 614-754-4561

November 17, 2011 - Columbus, OH - BBB warns consumers to keep an eye out for a water system company that claims to remove unhealthy minerals from your water, but only succeeds in removing money from your wallet. D.C. Water Solutions has four complaints from residents in rural areas of Central Ohio, and one woman whose parents are elderly said she suspects them of trying to run a scam on the elderly.

She went on to say that in October a man by the name of Larry Foster called her parents asking them if he could do a water test for them. A week later he showed up at their home. He convinced the couple to write a check for $3

"The company offered them a $500 check to keep the system", she said. "My parents still wanted the order cancelled and their money refunded to them." A few days later she says Mr. Foster agreed to refund the money and that was the last time anyone has heard from him.

She has tried calling him and writing letters but the number only reaches the company’s answering service, and she does not know where his office is located.

According to the Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio, Larry Foster has complaints totaling over $17,000 from residents in Springfield, London, Mt. Vernon and Sycamore

"Checking the background of every company with the Better Business Bureau, especially when a deal sounds too good to be true, is always a good plan," said Joan Coughlin, BBB spokesperson.

BBB recommends some of the following tips on dealing with door-to-door sellers:

• Listen carefully and be aware of high pressure sales tactics. Some unscrupulous door-to-door sellers will put pressure on you to close the deal at that moment, and even make special offers to entice you. Listen to their tone. Are they increasing in volume as they speak to you? Are they ignoring you despite saying you are not interested? Find a way to end the conversation quickly to avoid long, drawn-out pressure sales pitches.
• Stand strong. Do not invite unsolicited salespeople into your home. If you do allow a salesperson inside and decide during the presentation that you are not interested in making a purchase, simply ask him or her to leave. If the salesperson refuses to leave, threaten to call the police, and follow through if they don’t leave immediately.
• Verify the individual and the company. If you are interested in buying from a door-to-door seller, get everything in writing including price, warranty and all conditions. Tell the salesperson you will check it out and get back to him or her. Ask for a business card and contact information. Look at the company’s website and their BBB Business Review at www.bbb.org.
• Know your rights. The Federal Trade Commission’s Three-Day Cooling-Off Rule gives the customer three days to cancel purchases over $25 that are made in their home or at a location that is not the seller’s permanent place of business. Along with a receipt, salespeople should also include a completed cancellation form that customers can send to the company to cancel the agreement. By law, the company must give customers a refund within 10 days of receiving the cancellation notice.

If you or someone you know has encountered a questionable business, a complaint can be filed with the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org, local law enforcement, and state Attorney General offices.

To check the reliability of a company and find trustworthy businesses, visit BBB.org.