Coquitlam To Ban "Front Door Pests" But Excludes JWs

by Justitia Themis 4 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Justitia Themis

  http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=ae1d8b8a-8085-421e-bca4-9dc6f11c1e16&k=99813

  Coquitlam to ban front-porch pests

  Pushy gas pedlars targeted, but not Girl Guide cookies

  Cheryl Chan, The Province

  Published: Thursday, July 05, 2007

  Door-to-door salesmen are about to get the bum's rush from Coquitlam.

  Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to ban door-to-door sales following complaints about the pushy sales tactics of some natural-gas marketers.

  The bylaw when it is introduced in September will exclude charitable causes like Girl Guide cookie sales, political campaigners and religious organizations such as Jehovah's Witnesses.

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  "It's only meant to apply to commercial for-profit door-to-door sales," Coun. Richard Stewart said yesterday.

  "Unfortunately it means a summer of seeing door-to-door sales of natural gas.

  "I believe door-to-door discussions of religion are protected constitutionally. This [bylaw] wouldn't include them."

  The bylaw means gas marketers "will have to do other techniques like telemarketing or direct mail to contact the customer," said Rob Pellet of the B.C. Utilities Commission.

  The agency has logged more than 600 complaints about aggressive or misleading sales pitches by gas pedlars since May 1, when B.C. opened up the sale of residential gas to private companies.

  Complaints have come in from all over B.C.

  "A number of customers who talked to these natural-gas marketers believed they were only going to get more information, not a contract," said Pellet.

  In other cases, marketers have misrepresented themselves or have promised to save the customer money.

  The commission now requires all contracts to be verified by a third party, usually by the company's head office.

  Since the new procedure took effect on July 1, complaints have decreased "slightly" but Pellet said he is still "kept very busy."

  The Township of Langley requires door-to-door salesmen to have a permit, said Coun. Kim Richter.

  No natural-gas marketers have applied for one.

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  Tell us by e-mail at [email protected], or by fax at 604-605-2223. Please include your name and address.

  © The Vancouver Province 2007
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  Justitia Themis

  The title should have "Excludes JWs."

  Justitia
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  Wordly Andre

  SUCKS!!

  Ok to Ban Natural Gas but while JW's are filled with Hot Air ????? Duhhh isn't that the same thing
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  VanillaMocha73

  So, don't JWs mislead just as much as gas pedlars? (Altho I don't understand the conept - here in the states you have natural gas from the utility company if you need it - no sales involved). And it is harder to get out of JWs than out of some sales contract.... much more dangerous.
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  icyestrm

  There was another poll done that not too many people know of unless they are from the Lower Mainland. The radio station asked 'would you want the ban extended to include religious groups', not surprisingly, last I heard there was 91% in favor of that ban. Living in Coquitlam, I can see this coming. People are perturbed at best. Many of the townhome complexes have 'No Trespassing' and that means nobody other than residents and their visitors can go in. The territory is often converted to phone. Don't you just love it when enjoying a well-cooked dinner and the phone rings? In Canada we need the do-not-call registry and with clear punishments such as fines to those that don't abide to it. People just need to make a big sign 'No Jehovah's Witnesses on the Property'. JWs are like slugs that harm the garden.