Yes, solicitors within the Village of Glasford must apply for and be approved for a permit to solicit in the Village. Solicitors must also adhere to specific guidelines and rules regulating door-to-door solicitation.

Solicitation refers to any person or organization, whether for profit or not for profit, to solicit or peddle door to door, in any shopping center, at any intersection, or any other location on any property in the Village limits.

Yes, per Village Code, all solicitors should have a photo ID badge visible on their outer garment at all times when they are engaged in soliciting within the Village. If a solicitor does not display and cannot produce a photo ID badge or Village permit, they may not be licensed to solicit within the Village and may be reported to the Glasford Police Department by calling 911.

The First amendment and the U.S. Constitution protect the rights of door-to-door solicitors and preclude the ability of a community to ban door-to-door sales. The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld free speech for commercial purposes and the Village’s ability to restrict commercial door-to-door solicitation is limited to local regulations restricting the time, place and manner of door-to-door solicitations. Homeowners and occupants, however, do have the ultimate right to determine whether solicitors shall or shall not be invited to their residences or property.

Prominently display a no soliciting notice on or near the main entrance by way of a sign measuring at least 3” x 4” in size. No soliciting notices should read in letters at least 3/8” in height:
“Only Solicitors or Peddlers Registered in Lombard Invited”
or
“No Solicitors or Peddlers”
or
“Charitable Organization Solicitors Only”
or
“Not For Profit Organization Solicitors Only”

Signs may be purchased at home stores or online, or residents may create their own. With or without a sign, residents should not ever be afraid to exercise boundaries with solicitors by refusing to answer their door or by politely stating ‘no thank you’ or ‘not interested’ and shutting and locking their door.

~~Solicitors must have a Village issued permit;
~~Solicitors must cease solicitation upon owner or occupant request;
~~Solicitors must obey posted “No Solicitor” signs;
~~Solicitors must display their photo ID license conspicuously on their outer garment at all times while they are ~~engaged in soliciting;
~~Solicitors may only ring bells, knock or engage with residents for solicitation between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday (at no time on Sundays or holidays).

Under law, certain solicitation practices are unlawful and prohibited. Solicitors may NOT:
~~Continue to solicit upon any premises after having been requested by the owner or occupant to leave;
~~Solicit upon a premises posted against solicitation or peddling;
~~Use a plan, scheme or ruse, or make statements to indicate or imply that the purpose of the solicitation is other than to obtain orders or sales;
~~Cheat, deceive or fraudulently misrepresent while acting as a solicitor within the Village;
Interfere with vehicular, bicycles, or pedestrian traffic on any public right-of-way.

Beyond the restrictions listed above, the Village of Glasford does not directly regulate demeanor or style of individual sales employees or solicitors. Remember however, that as a homeowner or occupant you may at any time ask a solicitor to leave your property and if they refuse, call 911 for assistance. Every resident has the right to feel secure in their own home and should you ever feel threatened or unsafe based upon the behavior of a solicitor or peddler, please contact the Police immediately. Further, citizens who feel they have been the victim of unlawful solicitation or believe a solicitor is violating the law are urged to contact the Police immediately so that officers may locate the individuals involved and investigate.

The Village does not regulate or license door-to-door advocacy of a position or cause, with or without the distribution of pamphlets, handbills or literature, unless the person is otherwise peddling or soliciting for commercial sales or funds.

Residents should specifically be aware of door to door energy supplier sales and solicitations. The Village of Glasford does not send people door to door to register residents for the supply of alternate energy. The Village encourages residents who wish to sign up with their own energy provider to initiate first contact with the provider after comparing all rates and options. When evaluating energy suppliers, residents are encouraged to visit the Illinois Commerce Commission’s complaint scorecard which tracks and compares the rate of complaints against retail electric suppliers energy providers at http://www.pluginillinois.org/complaints.aspx.

Citizens should never compromise their security by providing utility account information to anyone unless they intend to enroll in an alternate energy program of their own choosing. The Village recommends that residents carefully protect their account information and energy billing information from solicitors and all other non-account holders.

The Village encourages residents having complaints about aggressive or deceptive practices of a business to file a consumer complaint with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office at (800)243-0618 or online at www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers/filecomplaint.html.

If the complaint involves a utility or retail energy supplier, residents are urged to contact the Illinois Commerce Commission Consumer Services Division which regulates energy retailers by phone at (800)524-0795 or online at www.icc.illinois.gov/consumer/complaint.