RICHMOND, Va. (Legal Newsline) — Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring announced March 9 that Capital Meats Inc., a wholesale meat seller formerly based in Frederick County, has agreed to settle allegations of violating the Virginia Consumer Protection Act and the Virginia Home Solicitation Sales Act.
According to allegations, the company misled consumers about products and failed to give consumers notice about the right to cancel a sale within three days. Capital Meats purportedly went to lengths to make it difficult for customers to cancel orders.
"Door-to-door sales can be a useful way to find out about products or services available in your neighborhood, but too often the tactic is abused by scammers who have no intention of following through on the sale," Herring said. "The most important thing to do in any interaction that feels suspicious is to stay calm and resist the pressure to make a quick decision. You can always take a salesperson's contact information and follow up later. If you make a purchase you regret, Virginia law gives you the right to cancel most door-to-door sales within three days."
Herring’s office released tips for Virginia consumers who deal with door-to-door sales people – resist pressure, know exactly who you are dealing with, know that you have three days to cancel a sale and try to avoid paying in cash while documenting the sale as best you can.