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Fort Collins used to completely ban commercial solicitation, but was recently forced to allow it.  However, in allowing it, they put in place several provisions:

• Door to door solicitors must obtain a permit from the city (the city performs at least a minimal background check)
• Solicitors must wear a city-issued photo ID badge
• Solicitation is only permitted between 9am and sunset
• Resident can opt-out of commercial solicitation by adding their name to a city-maintained no-solicit list
• Residents can opt-out of all solicitation by putting a “Do Not Solicit” notice on their door.

These provisions were intended to protect both the safety and privacy of Fort Collins residents.  Since both of those things are important to me, I placed my address on the do-not-solicit list.

I rarely have problems with solicitors.  Occasionally I get someone knocking on my door who wasn’t paying close enough attention to their list.  I usually remind them that we are on the no-solicit list and they very apologetically leave (quickly).  However, tonight’s solicitor was particularly dumb.

Some girl with a Direct TV badge came knocking on my door in the dark at about 7pm.  I informed her that I was on the no-solicit list.  She responded that she would gladly take us off her Direct TV list.  I told her that I shouldn’t be on her list in the first place, because I’m on the no-solicit list.  As I noticed that she didn’t have the city-issued solicitor badge, I informed her about the Fort Collins law and told her that it is illegal for her to be knocking on any doors without a permit, especially not doors like mine which are on the no-solicit list.  She told me that she was new to the area and was unaware of the solicitation laws, apologized, and left.

I usually feel a little bad when I have to tell a solicitor that they’ve made a mistake.  I mean, they’re just trying to do their job.  But what happened next with this Direct TV girl made me wish that I was a little more firm and direct.

Two minutes later, she knocks on my door again.  When I open the door and she sees me, she says, “Have I already knocked on your door?”  To which I respond, “What are you still doing knocking on doors?  I told you it is illegal!”  She runs off, probably just to knock on my neighbor’s door.

The poor girl.  Apparently she was not with it enough to figure out which doors she has knocked on, but then to make the mistake of knocking on the same door twice with the guy who lectured her on the solicitation laws.