Heather Wright/The Independent

A company which wanted to sell Cogeco services in Petrolia has been turned down for a transient trader licence by town council after salespeople jumped the gun and started knocking on doors.

YES Acquisitions Inc. filed a written request for the licence from the town May 6. It’s the first time door-to-door sales companies have applied for the licence in Petrolia in the last five years, even though it is required by the town.

The application, which came to council Monday, said the company would have up to seven people canvassing Petrolia and wanted the licence for one year.

But Councillor Bill Clark questioned the timing of the request. The company applied in May 6 but he heard from residents that salespeople were going door-to-door before council dealt with the application.

“I heard from people on the weekend – this past weekend – that they were out banging on doors before this has come to us today. So, if they asked you on Wednesday and then they went ahead and did it anyways, I’m inclined to tell them no,” Clark said.

“They want to do it without our permission. I think we should make sure that they’re not doing it,” he added.

Deputy Mayor Joel Field added the same company was canvassing in Sarnia with reports of aggressive tactics.

Council voted unanimously to deny the licence.

If employees of YES Acquisitions knocks on doors in town, Deputy Clerk Jessica Cross says they should call Lambton County for bylaw enforcement in the daytime or the OPP non-emergency number on evenings and weekends so the transient trader bylaw can be enforced.