XPost: can.internet.highspeed   
   From: egein@no.where.at.all   
      
   I got an interesting 'phone message from Reliance today. Apparently   
   their competitor, National Home Systems, is going door-to-door trying to   
   get people to change to their water heaters, and they're using some very   
   bizarre and dishonest tactics.   
      
   They'll tell you that they're "from the government" and you _have_ to   
   let them in to examine the water tank; they'll tell you that your black   
   PVC exhaust pipes are out of compliance with new code (this is actually   
   true, but you can keep the old pipe until you replace your furnace or   
   water heater, and they don't tell you that).   
      
   They'll tell you that Reliance has been sold to an American firm, and   
   "don't you want to deal with a Canadian company?" (in my case I don't   
   give a shit anyway).   
      
   They'll tell you that your tank is old  and not Energy Star compliant   
   and polluting god's green earth and that they'll "give" you a   
   replacement free with no contract and then the contract is for 15 years   
   at inflated prices and impossible to get out of.   
      
   They'll tell you that they want you to sign this form so "my boss knows   
   I've been to this house" and the form will be a contract and they're   
   coming on Wednesday (get the thing installed before you're quick enough   
   to cancel the contract).   
      
   They're fucking scam artists, like the gas contract greaseballs.   
      
   Anyway, don't let them in.   
      
   Tell them "get off my property or I'll call the police."   
      
   Don't _ever_ get physical with them if it seems like they're overly   
   reluctant to leave, just don't be afraid to dial 911.   
      
   Ask it they mind if you take a photo of them when they come to the door.   
      
   Ask for _personal_ ID (not just the cute badge that NHS has made up for   
   them with some phony name on it).   
      
   Don't ever sign anything at all.   
      
   Remember, in Ontario, you have ten full days to cancel any contract   
   you've signed anyway. So, if you want, sign the damned thing and then   
   cancel it immediately; if lots and lots of people did this, it would   
   mess up some salesmen's would-be careers. I don't do this, though. I   
   either wave them away without opening the door, or tell them that I'm   
   not the owner, and that the landlord lives in Edmonton.   
      
   This is a link to the Reliance site about this:   
      
   http://www.burnedatthedoor.com/index.php   
      
   I don't work for Reliance. We've had 2 of their electric water heaters   
   for about 9 years, they're reasonably priced, no long term contract, and   
   any dealings we've had with the company have been as pleasant as they   
   need to be. The one service call we've made  was answered within a few   
   hours (local electrician, too). They don't sell door-to-door.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)