“We heard a knock at the door,” said Seigfed Samala of Springfield.

An hour and half later, Samala found himself with a new home security system and $40 a month bill.

“As the weather gets better, you're going to see more people going door-to-door,” said Assistant Attorney General Ron Carrier.

Like Samala, many consumers could find themselves pressured into making a purchase that they later regret.

“It was so fast,” said Samala. “We were like, ‘Wow, we were hit by a tornado.'”

Seigfred says the salesmen even gave him the address of another home in the neighborhood that had signed up for the service but, as he later found out, that address doesn’t exist.

Samala was able to cancel but many people find they can't get their money back because they don't realize you only have three days to cancel any door-to-door transaction.

“The best thing you can say is, ‘Let me think about it for a little while,’” said Carrier.

Soliciting door to door is perfectly legal but Carrier says there are some steps you should take to protect yourself:
-- Find out if the salesman is licensed with the city.
-- Don't be hurried or coerced into signing an agreement.
-- Get everything in writing before signing.
-- Check complaints filed against the company with the attorney general and Better Business Bureau.
-- If you do sign, pay with a credit card.

“Don't sign a contract until you understand it, and know how much you'll be out in the beginning and every month,” said Carrier.