Door-to-door sales

A door-to-door sales person may knock at your door and:

• try to sell you something
• ask you to change your gas and electricity company.

This might end up costing you a lot more money or be a trick to get money from you.

Your rights

You do not have to:

• change your gas or electricity company
• sign a contract
• give out your personal information
• let the person into your home
• show the person your electricity or gas bill.

You can:

• ask the salesperson to go away
• take time to look at the prices and services offered by other companies
• ask for a copy of the contract
• get free advice before signing anything.

If you sign a contract you still have a 10-day ‘cooling off’ period. This means if you change your mind you must cancel the contract within 10 business days. You can cancel the contract by email, phone, letter or by fax. Your contract should also include a form so you can cancel the agreement. If not, call the company.

Do not agree to changes to the contract over the phone. Get advice first.

Stopping door-to-door sales people knocking on your door

You can get a 'Do not knock' sticker to put on your door. This warns sales people that they are breaking the law if they knock on your door. You can order stickers by using our online order form.

Rules about sales people

They can only visit between 9 am and 6 pm Monday to Friday and on Saturday between 9 am and 5 pm. They can not visit on Sunday or public holidays.

If you ask a sales person to leave at any stage, they must do so immediately.  If you ask them to leave they are not allowed to bother you again for at least 30 days.

Breaking the rules

If a sales person breaks these rules or ignores the 'Do not knock' sticker the company they work for may be charged with an offence. You should write down their name, company, date and time of visit.

You can get legal advice, make a complaint to the company, the regulator, Consumer Affairs Victoria or call an ombudsman. See 'How can we help' (below).

More information

Getting help with financial problems

Related publications

Debt problems: the law, your options

Do Not Knock campaign (including film and transcripts)

How can we help

Call Legal Help for free information over the phone about the law and how we can help you with your legal problem. You can speak to a legal information officer in English or ask for an interpreter. Phone (03) 9269 0120 or 1800 677 402 (country callers), Monday to Friday from 8.45 am to 5.15 pm.

To find out more about any of our legal services see What we do.

Who else can help?

Footscray Community Legal Service

Contact the Footscray Community Legal Service on (03) 9689 8444 for free legal information and the ‘Do not knock’ sticker.

Consumer Action Law Centre

Consumer Action Law Centre (CALC) gives free legal advice and representation to vulnerable and disadvantaged consumers. You can call them on (03) 9629 6300 or 1300 881 020.

Money Help

Money Help can help you deal with money and debt issues. It is managed by the Consumer Action Law Centre and provides a free phone financial counselling service.

Consumer Affairs Victoria

Consumer Affairs Victoria can investigate complaints against door-to-door sales people.

See Consumer Affairs Victoria – make a complaint

Their website also has easy English fact sheets about door-to-door sales.

See Consumer Affairs Victoria – Door to door sales.  

Energy and Water Ombudsman

The Energy and Water Ombudsman can help if you have a complaint with a electricity, gas or water company. This service is free.

Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman

The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman can help if you have a complaint about a phone, internet or pay-TV service.