Argenta News - Peddler license UPDATE

Peddler license UPDATE

Written by Eric Francis

Wednesday, July 30 2008

UPDATE: Image of the standard-issue city license is now on the jump. Click "Read More"(and sorry about the image quality).

ORIGINAL: Our friend Nate Brandes of the Northeast Lakewood Associated Neighborhoods group sends out this timely and useful information about door-to-door salespeople. In short: They are required by the city to obtain a license, and you ought to ask for it if someone comes to your door and tries to sell you something. Nate's post is below; the attachment he mentions has an image of the official city license but it wasn't compatible with the blog software (that, or I'm semi-illiterate with computers -- take your pick). I'm working on getting another image I can use so we can all see what the license looks like.

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July 29, 2008

My Fellow NLR Neighborhood Associations-Groups-Blogs

As noted on quite a few of the blog sites as of late there has been a rash of door-to-door salespersons knocking on our front doors and stating that they represent a well known home security system company. Some of them have a hang tag with a card that looks official but how can you tell? Oh they may make sure its hanging or pinned there for you to assume that they are legitimate, but most times they don't offer you the opportunity to read it! This ID question has become very important since reports in are stating that these salespersons are asking personal questions seeking information on homeowner's current security systems status, as well as 'pushing' their way in to check the conditions of windows and doors of the home.

We wanted to get the attached information to you as soon as possible. It provides a sample of the actual ID Card issued by the City of North Little Rock. Reading this ID Card can answer a lot of questions as to exactly who is standing on your front porch, along with whom they represent and what they are licensed to sell.

Hope the attachment can be placed on your blog sites or become a group discussion posting.

Nate Brandes

President

Northeast Lakewood Associated Neighborhoods

A North Little Rock Neighborhood Association

H: 758-0228 or C: 940-0231

Tag it:

Comments (15)

Anyone can copy that...
Written by reader, on 31-07-2008 03:12
Terric... now that you have published what this 'special' license looks like any idiot with a inkjet printer can make their own. There is NOTHING special about that to prevent ANYONE from making their own now that they see EXACTLY what it looks like. Nice work, Eric ( and Nate ).

It doesn't even have a frickin' NUMBER on it and/or a PHONE number so that someone could call and VERIFY that the person standing on their porch was really issued that thing.

Fer cryin' out loud.

I suggest you now CHANGE the license and at least make it a little HARDER to duplicate, include a registration number that can be verified, and a phone number to call to do that very thing.

Now you've done it...
Written by Eric Francis, on 31-07-2008 09:08
Terrific ... now that you have posted the idea of copying the peddler's license instead of keeping a lid on it, ANYONE can do it. Nice work, reader.

Okay, sarcasm aside, a couple of points: First, the license is issued by the city, not Nate or me, so we couldn't change it if we wanted to. You should be addressing your concerns to Jerry Reagan at the city.

Secondly, as I learned long ago, the people who are likeliest to pull these kinds of scams do NOT read newspapers (blogs, bulletin boards, what have you). I doubt some scam artist is thinking they'd better Google "peddler's license" and "North Little Rock" before coming to our town.

But you do make a good point about the lack of license number or phone number. I'll run that past Jerry Reagan and see what he has to say.

And another thing...
Written by Eric Francis, on 31-07-2008 09:50
... if we hadn't published what the official license looks like, someone could come up to your door with ANYTHING and claimed it was a city license, and you'd have never been the wiser. At least now you have a basis for comparison.

Even more thing(s)...
Written by reader, on 31-07-2008 13:43
So let's try and take this post back into useful territory...

Let's say someone DOES have one of these peddler licenses which anyone could pop out of an inkjet printer.

Is there ANYTHING about it that is 'special' when it has actually been issued by the City of North Little Rock?

I mean... is it LAMINATED or is it on a piece of CARDBOARD or what?

It's impossible to tell from the posted photo what it REALLY, physically looks like.

The image above makes it look like it could just be a scissor cut upper left corner of a piece of paper or something.

Yea, yea, I know.
Even if it's laminated anyone could do that at a local quick-print... but even then that tends to be more of a SOFT lamination versus a HARD one, like your
driver's license, which is a little harder to do.

Anything you can tell us about the actual PHYSICAL appearance of this 'license' would be helpful at this point and right on track with the original intent of this thread.

Amazing!
Written by britbratty, on 31-07-2008 14:24
First of all, I appreciate Nate Brandes and Eric getting this information to everyone in Argenta. Secondly, it is amazing to me how the same information on two different blogs can get such a different reaction. If you get a chance, go to Dogtown Wire's comments about the peddler license. After reading all the "reader" comments on here, the comments on Dogtown (especially CTYankee) put a smile back on my face! Comments - sometimes positive, sometimes negative. We are so fortunate to live in the United States where we can voice our opinions - yay or nay!

Complete the circle
Written by reader, on 31-07-2008 15:33
Getting the information out is never a bad thing.

Getting ALL the information out is better.

Let's just complete the circle here and get an actual PHSYICAL decsription of this license people are supposed to ask for so that if anyone does just whip out a simple piece of paper that rolled out an inkjet printer people will KNOW it's BOGUS.

Here's another tip...

I used to be in the home security business.

If someone EVER knocks on your door saying they are selling security systems there's no need to bother asking for any pieces of paper. Just say "One minute, please", close the door ( if you were dumb enough to even open it in the first place ) and call the POLICE immediately.

Better yet... grab your digital camera and get a photo before they run off.

Legitimate home security companies NEVER market 'door to door'.

Good point!
Written by britbratty, on 31-07-2008 15:43
Actually, I agree with the last comment. By the time you figure out if someone's license is legit or fake, they could have already forced their way into your home. As a single female, I make it a point NOT to open the door for strangers.

Ease off
Written by Eric Francis, on 31-07-2008 16:10
Reader, I've already noted your point was made and that I'd get more information on the licenses. But your remark about people being "dumb" simply for opening their door to someone who knocks is out of line.

Everybody's situation is different; where brit_bratty, a single woman, wouldn't open the door for anyone, I as a 6-foot-5 guy wouldn't hesitate. The broad condemnation you made was uncalled for.

Dumb is not a four letter word...
Written by reader, on 31-07-2008 17:20
Eric... it's nice to see more or your personality emerging and I think you are saint for taking on Scott's baby here... but I submit that no matter what your height and weight is or how many martial arts classes you have under your belt... to "never hesitate" to open your door when ANYONE knocks on it without first verifying who might be standing there is DUMB.. for ANYONE, under ANY circumstances.

I would imagine the man who was shot to death in his doorway just a few weeks ago in downtown LR when all he did was open the door would give a lot to replay that moment.

Get smart, bud.
Trust... but always VERIFY.
It could save your life.

Gee, reader....
Written by britbratty, on 31-07-2008 17:29
I understand your point, I understand Eric's point. What I don't understand is why you are so defensive and abrasive. You're rude...almost to the point of being verbally abusive.

Not intentional...
Written by reader, on 31-07-2008 17:39
Fer cryin' out loud ( again ).

I am NOT trying to be 'rude' or 'personally abusive' to ANYONE. I am trying to participate in a public discussion and do it honestly.

I think it's DUMB to have a peddler's license that is so easily reproducible by ANYONE when that same document is the one being recommended to verify whether someone is running a scam or not.

Erik was right... most scam artists are NOT that bright... but some ARE... and all it takes is one smart one to ruin your day.

I think it was DUMB to publish exactly what that (simple) license actually looks like without also including at least a physical description of it such as whether it is LAMINATED or not.

I honestly do think anyone who always opens their door just because someone knocked on it without at least verifying who they are or what they want is DUMB.

How else would you like me to sugar coat all that?

It's what I think.

When did everyone get so darn sensitive?

Public discussions are, inherently, wild rides. That's the glory of them and as someone else pointed out above... it's still a good thing that they are allowed to happen in this country.

Not sure how much longer tht might be true so I'm enjoying it while it lasts.

Okay, reader.
Written by britbratty, on 31-07-2008 17:48
I feel like we're arguing and that's the last thing in the world I like to do. So, I'm bowing out of this discussion. The rest of you can post more and have the last say. :)

It's not an argument... it's a BLOG
Written by reader, on 31-07-2008 18:01
britbratty... it's not an argument. It's just a public BLOG that runs un-moderated commenting, that's all.

Someone says what they think and then someone else says what they think and then someone else says what they think...

...and so on.

An argument is when your drunk Uncle Dan is pasted at Thanksgiving Dinner and won't leave the table.

Written by Paul J, on 31-07-2008 18:30
I didn't find Reader's comments rude or abusive, just honest. He's showing his personality. The candor is fine by me.

Written by dumblonde, on 31-07-2008 19:54
I, too, did not find reader's comments rude and abusive either. There was no fowl mouth name calling, family lashing, etc., and I frankly agreed mentally with his previous post about reproducing the license. I appreciate Nate for bringing it to our attention & Eric for following up on the post. I, personally, would have defaced the license with big, fat blue letters (outlined, not solid for visibility reasons) PROOF or UNOFFICIAL diagonally across it before posting on the WWW for everyone to see, but that's just me, a blond. Ha, ha.