The South Plains Better Business Bureau is cautioning people to be wary of door-to-door magazine sales in Lubbock.
BBB President Nan Campbell tells us the organization has received calls from concerned Hub City citizens as recently as Thursday night.
Campbell's main concern is that the sellers are young people whose sales pitch is that magazine sales will help them earn a scholarship or an exotic trip.
She says there's nothing to suggest the sales pitch is true or untrue and that other salespersons have used similar tactics for years. Campbell encourages consumers to make a purchase because they want the product, not because they want to help the salesperson.
BBBs in other cities have logged several complaints about the company, Atlantic Circulation, but Campbell says most of them have been resolved.
Campbell says there's no evidence that consumers won't get their magazines, but several have complained on other BBB websites about not receiving their orders.
The BBB is also concerned that the Pennsylvania-based company may be employing local teenagers who need to know the law.
Lubbock city ordinance requires a permit for door-to-door sales. Campbell says the BBB called the codes department and they had no record of such a permit from the company as of Friday morning.
Sgt. Jonathan Stewart with Lubbock police warns that selling door-to-door without a permit can get you in trouble.
"For people who are soliciting or peddling without the city-issued permit - they could face a fine of up to $500 for violation of city ordinance," Stewart said.
We called Atlantic Circulation and were told the manager had left for the day. KCBD left a phone number and a message, but so far the company has not returned our call.
Tonight at 10 we'll hear from a woman who was approached in her southwest Lubbock neighborhood at 9:30 Thursday night.
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