Direct marketing and selling

Under the Australian Consumer Law which came into effect on 1 January 2011, you have extra protections and rights when you buy goods and services from a door-to-door salesperson. To make sure things run smoothly use our checklist when a salesperson comes to your door.

Traders often use direct marketing methods such as door to door selling or telemarketing to consumers they think are most likely to be interested in their products or services. This type of marketing is unsolicited and any resulting sale or contract is considered to be an unsolicited consumer agreement.

If a salesperson approaches you, other than by telephone, they must clearly explain upfront the purpose of the visit and produce identification that includes, at least their name and the organisation they represent.

If you agree to an unsolicited agreement you have 10 business days to reconsider, during which you can cancel the agreement without penalty. This is called the cooling off period.