From time to time, the Communications Authority (CA) receives complaints from building management offices (BMOs) and members of the public on nuisances caused by unsolicited doorsteps sales visits promoting telecommunications or broadcasting services. Some salespersons were alleged to have entered residential buildings with unfair means or dishonest reasons, such as in the name of doing repair or maintenance works for individual residents. Some visited residential units very late at night and promoted telecommunications or broadcasting services in a persistent and over-aggressive manner, causing disturbance not only to the sales targets but also to their neighbours.

CA is not empowered by the Telecommunications Ordinance and Broadcasting Ordinance to take action against the annoyance caused by sales activities of telecommunications operators and broadcasting licensees (service providers). However, BMOs and members of the public may wish to consider taking the following actions for dealing with unsolicited sales visits by these service providers:

• BMOs may set guidelines on the permission of sales visits to individual units inside buildings. The guidelines may cover the time when sales visits are allowed, requirements regarding prior notices, information to be provided, prior approval, salespersons’ registration upon entry, display of identity badges, etc.
• If BMOs/residents find that staff/agents of these service providers are conducting unsolicited sales visits without permission or under the pretext of carrying out maintenance work, system upgrading, etc., they may consider whether such visits are trespass on private property, i.e. remaining in private property without permission. BMOs/residents/property owners may ask trespassing salespersons to leave their properties immediately. If they have any difficulties, they may call for the assistance of the police.
• As a matter of law, property owners and BMOs are entitled to take civil action against companies which commit a tort of trespass.

Other Consumer Alerts