School fundraisers on the rise - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

If you have a child in school, chances are you are in the middle of a fundraiser. More and more schools are asking students to sell products to help fill the budget gaps.
    
At the same time, the Better Business Bureau estimates the number of door-to-door sales complaints doubling over last year.
    
So how do you know whether what you're paying for is what you'll get?
    
The BBB suggests getting the transaction in writing.  Get a receipt or proof-of-purchase or contract explaining the details of your purchase and the terms and conditions that apply.
    
Dr. Tim Seiler directs the School of Fundraising at IUPUI's Center on Philanthropy, and said the best way to avoid being scammed is to read the fine print. "There should be an official enrollment form issued by a company," he said - for whatever they are selling.
     
Seiler also predicted that we're going to see an increase in school fundraisers "because the traditional (funding) mechanism for public schools is getting more difficult, and more schools are setting up fundraising strategies to cover those deficits."
    
Other suggestions from the Better Business Bureau: Avoid high pressure tactics, and don't invite sales people that you don't know into your home.
    
Also, be familiar with the three-day cooling off rule.  The Federal Trade Commission's three-day rule gives consumers three days to cancel purchases of more than $25 that are made in their home or at a location that is not the seller's permanent place of business. 
    
Complaints can be filed with the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org, or with the Attorney General's Office at http://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral/