When peddlers came to the door of Cedar Park resident Sylvia Pearson in November and offered to do some landscaping work, Pearson said she was quoted for 25 bags of mulch at $10 a bag and accepted the offer. Once the work was complete, Pearson said the peddlers told her they had used 120 bags of mulch instead. She said she was upset about the unexpected cost and felt scammed. “Definitely the one thing I learned was that Cedar Park does have a listing of current permits, and I would check to make sure that [the peddlers or solicitors] have done the due diligence of doing the permit,” Pearson said. “That gives you some peace of mind.” The city of Cedar Park issues permits to peddlers, who go from door to door to offer goods or services, and solicitors, who go from door to door to ask for donations. Canvassers are not included in the definition of peddlers or solicitors, according to the city’s website. The Cedar Park Police Department received eight calls about scams and disputes related to mulch landscaping work between February and November, department spokesperson Alicia Inns said. In addition to scams, Cedar Park Police Department Sergeant Larry Bond said illegitimate door-to-door salespeople may intend to survey a home before a potential burglary. Bond said after groups of magazine sellers came through an area, the department saw an uptick in the number of home burglaries. To avoid scams or robbery by individuals who travel door-to-door, Bond, who works in the department’s criminal investigations division, said residents can avoid scams from solicitors by the observing the following tips:
    • ask for a copy of the peddler’s permit;
    • ask for a business card or website to verify their identity and services;
  • ask for references;
  • never allow unknown people into your home;
  • never provide personal information, such as what hours you work or if you own dogs;
  • never pay before the work is complete;
  • make sure you have a written contract before the job begins;
  • talk to your neighbors, and
  • follow your gut instinct.
Active peddler and solicitor permits issued in Cedar Park may be viewed at www.cedarparktexas.gov/departments/city-secretary/peddler-solicitor-permits.