George's Garage Doors Blog

Garage Door Scams are on the Rise

Wed, 25 May 2022 07:35:32 GMT

I have come across several customers falling into this trap. Something needs to be done. They have several in every town. They say they are Mobile with no shop. They use an address or several in each town with no existing door company located there. Please beware!

Whether you need someone to fix the torsion strings or install a brand new garage door, you want the help of a company that you can trust, especially when repairing a part of your home that usually provides access inside.

Our Office has recently learned of a company scamming residents by impersonating a legitimate garage door repair and installation company in Chelmsford, Chelmsford Garage Door, Inc. The scam company uses names very similar to the legitimate company and lies about the company being sold or an employee no longer working there when pressed by consumers to speak to a specific individual. Such names include the words “Chelmsford” and “garage door,” “Chelmsfordgaragedoorhandyman,” “garagedoorrepairchelmsford,” “garagedoorrepairchelmsfordma” and other iterations involving repair and maintenance of garage doors in Chelmsford to confuse prospective customers.

Consumers hire the fraudulent company, thinking they are hiring the trusted and well-known business, and pay for repair or installation work that is either not done or done poorly. The legitimate company has hired an attorney to assist them with their imposter, protect the company’s reputation and to help put a stop to scamming their clients.

This issue raises a point of concern that our Office frequently warns consumers about: watch out for scammers who are looking to use the damages and faults in your home to make easy money. In order to avoid falling victim to fraudulent businesses, look out for the following:

Make sure your garage door repair company is properly registered as a Home Improvement Contractor with our Office. Contractors who engage in residential home improvement contracting agreements with homeowners for work on their primary residence of four units or less are required to register with OCABR.

Check the full name of the company you plan to hire. Scammers use similar names to confuse consumers, especially elders. Make sure the website or social media associated with the company matches the name by which you know them.

Check their reputation with the Better Business Bureau and read online reviews.

Does the company have a physical address? You can check to see if an address is real by using Google Maps. If you cannot pinpoint a headquarter location, it may be cause for concern about whether the company is legitimate.

Can you identify their employees? If the repair technician shows up in an unmarked van, without a uniform, or without some identifiable connection to the company he works for, be alert. Advertising is expensive, but most companies display their name or logo in some form that is easy to check.

Research the cost of your project ahead of time. Avoid companies that provide estimates for their work at a significantly higher price than what the industry deems as reasonable. It’s best to get two to three estimates from different companies to determine if their costs and timeline are similar. Be cautious of technicians asking for money up front, especially in cash. Never pay for the job in advance.

Get everything in writing. Jobs costing over $1,000 are required to have a contract, but our Office suggests a contract for every job, every time. Get a written contract that specifies the price, labor, and time frame of the job before authorizing the start of any work. Never sign anything unless you have thoroughly read all paperwork and are aware of any warranties or guarantees.

Watch out for Lifetime guarantees. Although this seems attractive, it can be a sign of a scam. By offering a lifetime guarantee, scammers look to install parts that will purposefully fail and replace them for free, but charge a heavy service fee for the installation.

https://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/garage-door-scams-are-on-the-rise/?fbclid=IwAR2jgdtXV7zi4HiTngI43wisK_s8ENcdsfAX8mUr-XWQF6gMpGZM8KKZUbk

How to Avoid Garage Door Scams

Wed, 25 May 2022 07:35:32 GMT

HOW TO AVOID GARAGE DOOR SCAMS

If your garage door breaks, it’s important to get it serviced quickly to help keep your home safe and secure. Finding a garage door company to come to your home and make repairs the same day you call is a modern convenience we expect.

What we don’t expect is to be overcharged for unnecessary parts and service by a professional garage door company that appears at the top of our internet search results. Unfortunately, garage door scams are popping up in cities throughout the United States and Canada, especially when a homeowner needs emergency service.

The garage door industry trade associations and manufacturers have created a video series to help homeowners learn how to spot a scam and avoid over-paying for unnecessary repairs and parts.

EMERGENCY GARAGE DOOR REPAIR SCAMS

Key takeaways:

Garage door scammers target homeowners in need of emergency service.
After you contact one of these scammers, they perform unnecessary repairs with unneeded parts and charge expensive fees for these services.
Garage door scammers prey on the homeowner’s lack of knowledge of garage door part and service costs.

COMMON GARAGE DOOR PROBLEMS

Key takeaways:

Garage door won’t close all the way: When the photo eye is broken, misaligned, or obstructed, your garage door will not close. The opener light often blinks repeatedly after every attempt to shut it. You can easily fix a misaligned or obstructed photo eye on your own by cleaning and readjusting it until the light is no longer flashing.
Broken spring: You can visually detect a this by looking at the spring that is directly above the door opening on the wall. If the spring is broken, there will be a gap between the coils and it will need to be replaced. If you have two springs, both should be replaced at the same time.
Garage door remote not working: If you have multiple remotes and one is not working, replacing the battery may solve the issue. If that is not the problem, or none of your remotes work, contact us at Georges Garage Doors.
Noisy garage door: A noisy door can often be quieted by applying Clopay Pro Lube to the hinges, rollers, and springs. If your door still rattles and shakes, we can address the problem quickly and professionally.

If your garage door repair professional recommends additional parts, ask why they are needed. Getting two quotes from different garage door dealers is a great way to safeguard against overcharges.

Don’t forget to check in and see how you’re doing. Just because you don’t achieve the big goals right away doesn’t mean you’re not making progress.

HOW TO SPOT A GARAGE DOOR REPAIR SCAM

Key takeaways:

Garage door scammers often use multiple names, generic names, or unclear names. Your dealer should be listed consistently across their website and other advertising.
Garage door scammers often do not have a legitimate physical showroom. Search Google Maps for the showroom address on their website to see if the search yields a legitimate business location.
Many scams advertise a low fee for the service call, but add extra charges later. If you contact a company with a low-cost service call, get the quote on their recommended services before agreeing to completion of the work.
When you succeed in achieving a goal, be it a big one or a small one, make sure to pat yourself on the back.

TIPS TO AVOID GARAGE DOOR SCAMS

Key takeaways:

When you call a repair service, your phone call is one of the best ways to tell if you are being set up for a scam.
Listen to the garage door company’s name when they answer the phone. Does it match what is on their website or advertising? If they have any trouble consistently stating their name, choose another company.
Ask for the address of the garage door service company. Does it match their website and advertising? If not, choose another one

https://www.clopaydoor.com/residential/buyingguide/how-to-avoid-garage-door-scams