HARTFORD – The Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) is requesting complaints or information from consumers who believe they have been scammed by a garage door service since January 2024.
Since last April, DCP’s Investigations Division received 23 complaints regarding garage door repair services. Common complaint types were poor workmanship, misrepresentation of a company, and failure to provide proper documentation, such as contracts or receipts.
Complainants reported companies lacked proper identification, including unmarked vehicles or apparel. Homeowners who feel they had a similar experience with a garage door service are encouraged to file a complaint.
“Complaints play a key factor in consumer protection as it informs our agency about ongoing trends and bad actors in various industries,” said DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli. “We encourage anyone who feels they were scammed by a garage door business to let us know as soon as possible. Complaints help our team investigate issues that can help prevent future instances of fraud.”
Before you hire a repair company, you should:
- Verify the Credentials: Garage door services must have an active “Home Improvement Contractor” registration with DCP. Credentials can be verified using eLicense and should match the contact information on their website. This should be the first step in the verification process. Consumers who hire registered contractors may be eligible for the Home Improvement Guaranty Fund. Please note a registration issued by DCP is not an endorsement of a company.
- Hire a local company: Ask neighbors, friends, and other community members for recommendations. Read through the company’s reviews on Better Business Bureau.
- Compare Costs: Get quotes from multiple companies and compare prices and services.
- If a deal seems too good to be true: It probably is. Be skeptical of any garage door repair company that promises immediate service or says they operate 24/7. Most legitimate companies do not offer immediate service or 24/7 service.
- Check for Lookalikes: Fraudulent companies will use similar names to well-known companies. Double-check the spelling and grammar on the site’s domain.
- If the website has a poor layout, provides few photos, or the contact information is hard to find, this is a red flag.
- Ask questions: Ask about the contractor’s experience and company’s history. Ask about the payment method, and whether they use a traceable form of payment such as check. If an individual asks for cash or a peer-to-peer app such as Cash App, this could indicate a scam.
- Trust your instincts: If you feel that the company does not seem trustworthy, has poor communication, or the deal is “too-good-to-be-true,” follow your intuition and look for another company.
- Don’t fall for high-pressure tactics: Bad actors will use high-pressure tactics to get you to sign a contract and pay large sums of money up front. In Connecticut, you have the right to cancel a contract within 3 businesses days.
- No contract, no deal: If an individual or company refuses to provide or sign a contract, do not do business with them. Written contracts are required for home improvement projects in Connecticut. The contract should be fully understood and signed before the project starts. The contract should include:
- The credential.
- A summary of the project.
- Timeline, including start and completion dates.
- Total cost, and a breakdown or timeline of payment installments.
- The customer’s three-day right-to-cancel.
- Use your garage door’s manual open function: If you are unable to open your automatic garage door, locate the emergency release cord and manually open the door. Don’t let a broken garage door lead you to hire a bad company because you need repairs quickly.
To file a complaint, consumers can visit ct.gov/dcp/complaint or email DCP.investigations@ct.gov. Complaints should include the name of the company, contract details, names of individuals you dealt with, and the company’s contact information.