'Security Offer' Scam - averted?

[Seburiel]

Okay, it's a sunday afternoon, and I'm not expecting anyone to come over, etc, so I'm sitting on the living room couch, cleaning the various firearms which I have collected (and love dearly), when a knock comes at the door - very quietly. i get up, look through the window in the door (who thinks these are a really good idea, anyway?) and see a short hispanic man, and a taller white man, who can obviously see me at this point. Now, I'm 6'6" and covered in tattoos, and have what may best be discribed as a 'grouchy face'.
I open the door, and without introducing himself, he launches into this speil about how we need a security system, and he's been sent by 'A-1 Security' to look at the house to determine what sort of system we would need. i reply that I already have a security system, and he says 'Well with all the burglaries in THIS neighborhood, you may want to reconsider.'
I just laughed at him, and guestured at the PT140 in my OWB, and told him that I'm home nearly 24/7 and that a burglar would be quite hard-pressed to NOT find me home.
They walked off, muttering (I didn't catch what) and I shut the door, and locked up, and gathered up the household valuables and safed them and my weapons.

so now I'm all paranoid.
-s.

[agbullet2k1]

I seem to remember a story about that company a few months ago. They were having problems in other states with the salesmen being too pushy and actually forcing their way into homes. They said they were going to be moving through Texas next, but there seemed to be some concern on how many salesmen would be taken out under the castle doctrine if that practice continued.

So if you're worried they may have been scoping you as a potential target, I'm pretty sure they're a legitimate (even though annoying) company.

[WarHawk-AVG]

S&M outfit and a 12Ga usually runs them off..

[Lumberjack98]

S&M outfit and a 12Ga usually runs them off..

[WildBill]

I thought alarm companies had to be licensed in Texas. Maybe you should have asked for a business card and check to see if they are registered with DPS.

[gregthehand]

I would have just said "No sollicitors!" and not even opened the door. I hate door to door salesman. I honestly believe that they only sell junk that people wouldn't buy without someone pressuring them. In the e-business World we live in now it isn't cost effective to pay someone to walk around on foot trying to sale something. Just advertise and give a website. If you really have a good product then people will buy (heck they'll buy a bad one!) I've noticed that the only things these guys sell now is stuff like magazine subscriptions, "security" systems, kitchen knives, etc. I just hate these guys on my porch!!!!

[Rokyudai]

It's hard to say legit or not. If it makes you feel uncomfortable, then, there is probably a reason. I would have done my best to present my off hand side (if possible) when answering the door and leave it out of the terse conversation. Less is better and surprise is your friend. They probably went away muttering something more along the lines of 'lost another one to Ditech" then "marked for later".

Good luck! Were they in the NorthEast part of SA by chance?

[sbb]

The alarm company that was on the news was Apex out of Provo,Utah. It is a Mormon run company. I saw the report about a year and a half after I signed up with them. During our discussions they were very professional and spent all the time I required to become comfortable with their company. By far their professionalism is heads and shoulders above my previous monitoring company. That said, I hate solicitors too.

[KaiserB]

I thought alarm companies had to be licensed in Texas. Maybe you should have asked for a business card and check to see if they are registered with DPS.

Most door to door vendors are required to register with the municipality. You may check your local ordinances and nail them on it.

This is how I got rid of the ice cream man parking in front of my driveway for 20 min at a time, night after night, playing "Turkey in the Straw." A simple "Hello, may I see your vendors license," or in my case "Hola, No me importa si usted no habla Inglés ... escuchar atentamente" "Where is your vendors license?"

[Seburiel]

Good luck! Were they in the NorthEast part of SA by chance?

Yes, actually, in the vicinity of Madison High School.

-s.

PS Maybe they are legitimate, I saw a work van with 'A1 Security' on it in the neighborhood today.

[DoubleJ]

S&M outfit and a 12Ga usually runs them off..

"Zed, Spider caught'em a couple a flies..."

[Glock 23]

I thought alarm companies had to be licensed in Texas. Maybe you should have asked for a business card and check to see if they are registered with DPS.

Legally, they do. But that doesnt mean these guys were.