Full Notification

“Peddlers and Solicitors in Sequim”

The City of Sequim, Sequim Code Compliance Officer, and the Sequim Police Department are noticing, once again,an increase in peddlers or solicitors in Sequim selling items, goods, or services door to door. We have received several calls from residents in neighborhoods where the peddling and soliciting has occurred. The company we were recently alerted about is NXCESS. Two females who reportedly work for NXCESS were arrested in these recent cases; they were both 19 years old from out of state. They were arrested for violating the Sequim municipal code that regulates door-to-door sales and peddling. According to the reports the peddlers/sellers’ told a wide range of stories, from getting points from their sales towards elaborate trips to study across the globe, money for college, earning points to be sent to Florence, Italy to be trained on becoming a chef for the Olive Garden, that they would be paying for books to give to sick children.

A “peddler” or “solicitor” going door-to-door to sell goods, wares or merchandise of any kind is required to have a license from the City of Sequim for each day they solicit within the City.

Peddlers/solicitors that do not have a license are in violation of Sequim Municipal Code (SMC) Chapter 5.24.SMC chapter 5.24 covers the licensing requirements, unlawful acts, requirement for receipts and notice to buyer information. This code does not consider religious, charitable or political organizations as peddlers/solicitors.

Peddlers/solicitors going door to door are required to display their peddlers/solicitors license on their outer clothing. You can ask to see their peddler/solicitor license for that particular day. If they cannot show you such a license call the Sequim Police Department, 683-7227, to report the unlawful solicitation; an officer will contact you as soon as they are available. If you told the peddler/solicitor to leave and they don’t or if you feel that the tactics being used by the salesmen are threatening or pushy call 9-1-1.

If you were a victim of this and you paid by check or gave out personal information and you are concerned that that check or information may be used to steal your identity or used to open bogus accounts in your name causing extensive damage to your credit score and months of clearing your name once it is detected.You should:

• Contact your bank and alert them to the situation. Follow up with your bank to make sure the check was cleared for the correct amount by the correct company.
• File a police report with your local law enforcement agency.
• Contact one of the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax 800-525-6285, Experian 888-397-3742 and TransUnion 800-680-7289) to place a fraud alert on your accounts.
• File a complaint at www.fraud.org and www.consumer.gov/sentinel/ and if the crime occurred using the internet also file a complaint at www.ic3.gov.

Remember, you are entitled to one free credit report a year regardless of whether you are a victim of fraud or not; you can request the report from:

www.annualcreditreport.com or 1-877-322-8228.