West Seattle Blog…

Door-to-door alert: Solicitor’s claim didn’t check out

Nancy in Fairmount checked on a solicitor who came to her door last night – and the organization he mentioned says they’re not doing any soliciting. He was in the 4700 block of 38th SW (map), carrying brochures for the Department of Early Learning – which is a state agency, and therefore can’t and doesn’t solicit donations. The description from Nancy: “He was a black male who looked to be in his early 20’s and had a dark blue knitted cap on his head – he mentioned something to me about having his braids tucked under his cap.” She says he claimed to be affiliated with the UW; she checked directly with Early Learning today, and was told flat-out they don’t seek money that way.

Door-to-door alert: “It’s just a penny”

Out of the WSB inbox, from BJ:

I had a suspicious solicitor come to my door this afternoon around 3 pm in the 5200 block of 25th Ave SW. He was holding pamphlets and I believe he mentioned something about Seattle Public Schools. He looked very unprofessional and raggedy dressed. When I cut him off in the middle of his pitch to tell him I had no money, he replied “it’s just a penny” and looked upset. I said sorry but I had nothing for him and he took the pamphlet back that he had handed to me and walked away. As he was leaving I saw him closely look into a parked car on the street as he went up to another neighbor’s house. He continued down the street skipping some houses but hitting others in no clear order that I could put together. It left me with enough of a negative impression that I called 911 and reported him.

2 solicitor alerts: One “sales rep”; one city warning for all

Two solicitor alerts to pass along – one from a local business, one from the city – read on: Click to read the rest of 2 solicitor alerts: One “sales rep”; one city warning for all…

2 West Seattle solicitor alerts: 1 on the phone, 1 at the door

Two solicitor alerts that WSB’ers wanted to share tonight. Both could well be legitimate, but the recipients’ eyebrows were raised a bit – read on for both reports: Click to read the rest of 2 West Seattle solicitor alerts: 1 on the phone, 1 at the door…

West Seattle door-to-door alert: Meat sellers refusing to show ID

Erin e-mailed to share word of “a very rude door to door meat seller” tonight at her house on Puget Ridge, saying, “After the incident, I searched (WSB) and found this thread referencing the same company. They may be legit, but they were beyond rude.” Read on for her report: Click to read the rest of West Seattle door-to-door alert: Meat sellers refusing to show ID…

West Seattle door-to-door alert: Candy seller doesn’t check out

Out of the WSB inbox, a door-to-door alert from Rich, who did followup research (as did we) – read on: Click to read the rest of West Seattle door-to-door alert: Candy seller doesn’t check out…

West Seattle city attorney rep: Ready to fight illegal solicitors

Just back from a meeting tonight involving neighbors banding together to fight crime – not a regularly scheduled meeting, but one called by the Fairmount Springs neighborhood, and held at West Seattle Church of the Nazarene (42nd/Juneau). We’ll publish a separate story about crimefighting tips and questions, including answers by Block Watch leaders as well as Community Police Team Officer Ken Mazzuca, but first a short story with a separate topic that came up – always a hot topic here: Door-to-door solicitors. When a meeting attendee asked, “So what’s legal?” deputy city attorney Beth Gappert, who is liaison to the Southwest Precinct and therefore based here in West Seattle, jumped up.

“Residential selling IS legal,” she began, but then went on to very clearly explain the rules that we’ve linked to here, time and time again, though without quite as vivid an explanation. “The company that’s selling is required to have a license. Each employee must have a residential agent’s license. It must be displayed prominently on their clothing. And each employee must have a copy of the company’s business license.”

Sounds easy enough, but Gappert went on to say that she’s checked the records and “only about half a dozen businesses have residential sellers’ licenses in the city – so the vast majority of sellers do NOT have licenses.” That means they’re operating illegally – as is the case if a solicitor of any kind knocks on a door despite a “no soliciting” sign – and, she added, “It is illegal if you ask them to leave and they refuse.” If ANY of those circumstances happen, Gappert stressed – with Officer Mazzuca at her side – “I highly encourage people to call the police over this issue. We know this precinct is going crazy over solicitors. I see the reports. I read about it on (WSB). … Make a report, be willing to testify, so we can prosecute. … Officers in this area are ready to go after them.”

Still got questions/concerns? Come to tomorrow night’s West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting — Gappert is almost always there, as are CPT officers and leaders — 7 pm Tuesday, Southwest Precinct (Delridge/Webster). Meantime, watch for our second story from the meeting, with advice from the police, and neighbor-to-neighbor, on fighting and deterring the crimes we hear about the most these days – burglaries and car prowls.

Door-to-door alerts, of sorts: Suspicious sightings, + soliciting

Two alerts (and two quick mentions) to share this morning – not necessarily sellers, though (ADDED 3:13 PM – a solicitor report) – read on: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alerts, of sorts: Suspicious sightings, + soliciting…

2 West Seattle door-to-door alerts: 1 persistent, 1 peeved

Two more encounters that your fellow West Seattleites wanted to share – read on: Click to read the rest of 2 West Seattle door-to-door alerts: 1 persistent, 1 peeved…

Door-to-door alert: Door-knocking with nothing in hand

Kate shares a Genesee Hill sighting – read on: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alert: Door-knocking with nothing in hand…

Door-to-door alert: Nonprofit solicitor after dark?

Cheryl suspects this solicitor was legit and is planning to check tomorrow, but wanted to share the story anyway: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alert: Nonprofit solicitor after dark?…

Door-to-door alert: State warning about “Fresh Start”

Thanks to Diane for pointing this out, since door-to-door “legit or not?” reports are a recurring topic among WSB’ers: The state Attorney General has issued an alert about magazine solicitors working for “Fresh Start Opportunities”; read it here. The AG also points to a search page you can use to see whether a purported charity is legit. (No “Fresh Start” mentions in our door-to-door alert archives, but remember that solicitors are required to show you their license/ID – so always ask.)

2 3 door-to-door alerts: Meat and meet

Two Three door-to-door alerts to share this morning (2 involving what appears to be the same team) – read on: Click to read the rest of 2 3 door-to-door alerts: Meat and meet…

Door-to-door alerts: Magazine solicitors show up

We’ve received two tales of encounters with purported magazine-selling solicitors in north West Seattle over the past few hours – read on: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alerts: Magazine solicitors show up…

West Seattle door-to-door alert: Clipped by a hedge-trim offer

A warning just in from Molly – read on: Click to read the rest of West Seattle door-to-door alert: Clipped by a hedge-trim offer…

Door-to-door alert of sorts: Legitimately looking for help?

Carrie Ann encountered someone she describes as “questionable” by her West Seattle home this morning, and wondered if he were legit – read on: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alert of sorts: Legitimately looking for help?…

Door-to-door alert: Be careful who you let into your building

As a side note to the recent West Seattle door-to-door alerts regarding magazine sellers who may or may not be legit, Ann shares a warning about solicitors in what are supposed to be secure buildings – read on: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alert: Be careful who you let into your building…

Door-to-door alert: Magazine sellers

Just got a phone call from a resident in a neighborhood southwest of The Junction – saying two young woman are selling magazine subscriptions door-to-door, claiming to be raising money for a “trip to Holland” (a destination also mentioned in this recent alert). He says neighbors gave them money, then looked up the information online and found claims of a suspected scam, and “ran after them to get their checks back.” Past door-to-door alerts (including comments, where more stories usually emerge) are here; city rules for door-to-door solicitors are here.

West Seattle door-to-door alert: Magazines … for the troops?

The door-to-door alerts shared by WSB’ers have both alerted people to ruses and resulted in information verifying legitimate sellers – so in that spirit, here’s the latest: Click to read the rest of West Seattle door-to-door alert: Magazines … for the troops?…

Door-to-door alert: Crew says they’re here for a month

Matt sent in the latest door-to-door alert – don’t know if they’re legitimate or bogus but there’s been some power in people discussing solicitor sightings so we’re sharing them. (Also note this online article from the Better Business Bureau.) Read on for Matt’s report: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alert: Crew says they’re here for a month…

2 door-to-door alerts: “Come outside” pitch; mystery cause

Two door-to-door alerts to share this afternoon – read on: Click to read the rest of 2 door-to-door alerts: “Come outside” pitch; mystery cause…

Door-to-door alert: Free paper, with a pitch for a “tip”

An Arbor Heights resident just sent in this report, saying a couple things raised his suspicions – read on: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alert: Free paper, with a pitch for a “tip”…

Door-to-door alert: Alarm system “fix” offered

Catherine’s a little worried about the people who showed up on her doorstep in Highland Park today and wonders if anyone has words of reassurance – or warning: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alert: Alarm system “fix” offered…

Door-to-door alert: “Earning points” solicitor in Highland Park

WSB’er “Datamuse” sends along this solicitor sighting: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alert: “Earning points” solicitor in Highland Park…

West Seattle door-to-door alert: “Refused to provide ID”

Out of the WSB inbox from someone who lives in the 5900 block of 38th SW (map):

A tall, young, dark haired Caucasian guy appeared at my front door this afternoon (Thursday) at 4:30 and said he represented “GE” but his uniform polo shirt said a different company name (“Pivotal” or “Pinnacle”?). He asked if I was the homeowner, which immediately irked me, and then asked if I attended the “community meeting at the school” about security in the neighborhood, etc. etc. He wanted us to post a sign in our yard advertising his security services; I never saw any signs though he did carry an official looking folio which he never opened. He refused to provide a business card or identification which made me suspicious.

City law requires ID and licenses for door-to-door solicitors – here are the rules (find them any time in the resource section at the bottom of the Crime Watch page).

And another door-to-door alert: Fake cable guys?

Two door-to-door alerts in one night – this one’s from Chris in the Beach Drive area: Click to read the rest of And another door-to-door alert: Fake cable guys?…

Door-to-door alert from just south of The Junction

Misty wanted to share word of an apparent solicitor in her area within the past hour – read on to see what she wrote: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alert from just south of The Junction…

Door-to-door alert, or Crime Watch? Arbor Heights sighting

From Arbor Heights, Suzanne e-mails to share this story – solicitor, or caser? Read on: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alert, or Crime Watch? Arbor Heights sighting…

West Seattle door-to-door alert: Soliciting, or casing?

Elana thinks the man who rather aggressively solicited for yard work may have been casing for crime. Read on for the story she e-mailed us to share: Click to read the rest of West Seattle door-to-door alert: Soliciting, or casing?…

Another door-to-door alert: Read the fine print

Not related to our earlier report, so we’re running this one separately. Magazine sellers are apparently back at it – and one Lincoln Park-area resident says the story two of them told him tonight turned out to be bogus – though the fine print, when he looked very closely at the receipt, didn’t lie – Read on for his description of the two and the story they told: Click to read the rest of Another door-to-door alert: Read the fine print…

Door-to-door alert from Alki: Casing, or Comcast?

Alma on Alki wanted to get the word out about someone who came to her door tonight – read on for her story: Click to read the rest of Door-to-door alert from Alki: Casing, or Comcast?…