Here at Yuba City’s Locksmith & Garage Door Repair company, we take a serious stance on contractor scams. We always try to do our best when it comes to educating our customer on how to avoid getting ripped off.
Unfortunately, many of the same companies that are scamming customers are continuing to operate and rip people off. Because garage door repair is a loosely regulated industry, it seems just about anyone can label themselves a “garage door repairman” without any experience at all.
Most of these companies appear to be operating under numerous pseudonyms and if they get any bad reviews they tend to change the name of their company afterward.
To make matters worse, it can be difficult to take any legal action against these companies as many of them operate on a gray area of the law. Most of them take advantage of customers by charging exorbitant prices and scaring people into purchasing garage door parts they don’t need.
We’ve seen scammers charge over $1,500 for projects that should have costed less than $200. Unfortunately, some customers aren’t aware of how much garage door repair costs really are, so they agree to the price.
We hope lawmakers step up to the plate to protect people from these unscrupulous companies. But until then, the best way to safeguard yourself from someone taking advantage of you is to do a little research beforehand.
Protecting Yourself from Repair Scams
Despite the ongoing problem of repair fraud in America, you can easily avoid it with a little research before hiring help to fix your door.
1) Check their reviews.
While some companies may be new and not have reviews, it’s a good idea to only work with ones that have verified reviews from actual customers. There are a lot of places you can check for reviews including Google businesses, Yelp, Facebook, and Angie’s List. You may also want to see if there are any complaints against the business on the BBB.
2) Are they friendly?
If the company has great reviews, then feel free to give them a call and ask some questions. This is the perfect time to employ an age-old test: are they friendly?
A genuine garage door repair company will take their time to answer any questions or concerns you may have. If you notice the repairman is impatient or rude, this is a sign you should look elsewhere.
3) Are they bonded & insured?
Perhaps one of the most important factors to look out for is whether the company you’re working with is both bonded & insured. When a company is bonded, it means that a guarantee of performance is in place. To be bonded, businesses will need to pay a premium to a surety company. In return, this will protect you, the consumer, by ensuring the work you hired them to do is performed and that you’re protected from loss.
A contractor’s insurance will cover issues like liability which includes damage to your property or person. It’s important that the company you hire has both coverages. And don’t take their word for it. Request their bond number certification and insurance certificate for verification.
4) What’s it cost?
It’s not always easy to estimate the cost of overhead garage door repair work over the phone. But the company you choose should at least be able to provide an estimate or give you a general idea of what to expect. They should be able to outline their costs and process very clearly over the phone.
If they refuse to provide costs, an explanation of their process, or are just dodgy with questions, it’s time to look for a different company. In addition, be careful of costs that are too high or too low. You may want to try calling around to a few different companies so you can understand what the average is.
5) Beware of unmarked vehicles and workers without uniforms.
If your repairman shows up in an unmarked vehicle without any kind of uniform, start asking questions. Note: this is not to say that all repairmen without branding are fraudulent. There’s a lot of great startup companies out there that can’t afford to establish their company with a logo, yet. Still, you should express your concern with the worker and inquire why they’re not in uniform and gauge their reply.
6) Observe the repairs.
If your repairman passed all the tests with flying colors, we still don’t recommend leaving them alone to perform the work. An honest repairman would have no problem with you observing his work and bringing up any concerns you have during the process.
7) Ask questions.
Feel free to bring up concerns you have with the repairman. If they recommend a certain service or need for replacement, ask them to demonstrate how it’s broken or why you need it. You don’t have to just take their word for it. After all, this is your money and your garage door!
Finally, if you ever feel uncomfortable with a company you’re dealing with, consider ending the service there. A good company won’t surprise you with extortionist costs or pressure you into buying new garage door parts.