With cell phones and texting being such a part of our lives, hearing an unexpected knock at the door has become a thing of the past. However, that doesn’t mean it will never happen, and knowing how you or your children should respond is important.
New and existing companies might still solicit business by going door-to-door, but how do you know if a person is a legitimate employee? Here are some steps you can take to ensure you feel as safe as possible when the doorbell rings:
- Before fully opening the door, ask who the person is and try to get a look at them.
- If you don’t recognize the person or feel comfortable, ask him/her to leave a card and say you’ll call the company at a later date.
- If the person doesn’t want to leave, call the company they claim to represent to verify their employment.
- Call a friend or family member to stay on the phone if you decide to open the door.
If you have children who sometime stay at home alone while they’re out of school, I encourage you to tell them never to answer the door to a stranger. If they hear an unexpected visitor, they should call an adult immediately.
If you or your children are ever in a situation where the person won’t leave, call 911 to report a suspicious person. While it might be a legitimate visit, it’s always better to err on the side of caution and guarantee you’re safe.