Public Safety Tips

Avoiding Home Repair Fraud

Please use extreme caution when confronted with the following warning signs of a potential scam:

1. Door-to-door salespeople with no local connections who offer to do home repair work for substantially less than the market price.
2. Solicitations for repair work from a company that lists only a telephone number or a post office box number to contact, particularly if it is an out-of-state company.
3. Contractors who fail to provide references when requested. 
4. People who offer to inspect your home for free.  Do not admit anyone into your home unless he or she can present authentic identification establishing his or her business status.  When in doubt, do not hesitate to call the worker's employer to verify his or her identity.
5. Contractors who demand cash payment for a job or ask you to make a check payable to a person other than the owner or company name.
6. Offers from a contractor to drive you to the bank to withdraw funds to pay for the work.

Contract Tips

1. Get all estimates in writing.
2. Do not be induced into signing a contract by high-pressure sales tactics.
3. Never sign a contract with blank spaces or one you do not fully understand. If you are taking out a loan to finance the work, do not sign the contract before your lender approves the loan.
4. You have three business days from the time you sign your contract to cancel any contract if the sale is made at your home. The contractor cannot deprive you of the right by initiating work, selling your contract to a lender or any other tactic.  If you are planning to file a claim with your insurance company to pay for the work, you may cancel the contract in one of two ways, whichever occurs first: (1) within five briskness days after receiving written notice from the insurance company denying your claim; or (2) within 30 days after you sent a claim to the insurance company.
5. If the contractor does briskness under a name other than the contractor's real name, the business must either be incorporated or registered under the Assumed Business Name Act. Check with the Secretary of State to see if the business is incorporated or with the county clerk to see if the briskness has registered under the Act.
6. Homeowners should check with local and county units of government to determine if permits or inspections are required.
7. Determine whether the contractor will guarantee his or her work and products.
8. Determine whether the contractor has the proper insurance. 
9. Do not sign a certificate of completion or make final payment until the work is done to your satisfaction.

Basic Terms to be included in a contract

• Contractor's full name, address and telephone number.  Illinois law requires that those selling home repair and improvement services provide their customers with notice of any change to their business name or address that comes about prior to the agreed dates for beginning or completing the work.
• A description of the work to be performed.
• Starting and estimated completion dates.
• Total cost of work to be performed.
• Schedule and method of payment, including down payment, subsequent payments and final payment.
• A provision stating the grounds for termination of the contract by either party.  However, the homeowner must pay the contractor for the work completed.  If the contractor fails to commence or complete work within the contracted time period, the homeowner may cancel and may be entitled to a refund of any down payment or other payments made towards the work upon written demand by certified mail.
• Illinois law also requires contractors who offer roofing work to include their Illinois state roofing license name and number on contracts and bids. 
• Keep a copy of the signed contract in a safe place for reference as needed.

Office of the Illinois Attorney General - Consumer Protection Website