Home Improvement Rip-Offs and How to Avoid Them

The recent high winds and bad weather will soon be followed by a bunch of 'Home Improvement' Contractors soliciting business. As part of our continued commitment to serving and helping our neighbors, AMAN (American Muslims Assisting Neighbors-www.amaninc.org) is pleased to bring a few tips from the Illinois Attorney General's office to save yourself from grief when dealing with these 'pros'. In addition to the tips privided by the AG's office, here are some additional things you need to be aware of:

Mohammed Faheem suggests you ask for a written release of lien from all material suppliers and sub-contractors when you make the final payment.

Mohammed Faheem suggests you drive by and visit the references provided by a contractor in order to verify. Do not take the contractors word for it.

Now, let's see what the AG's office recommends.

Be wary of:
• Door-to-door salespersons with no local references who offer to repair your house for much less than the market price.
• You receive solicitations for repair work from a company that provides only a telephone number or post office box number to contact.
• Salesperson or contractor offers to inspect your home for free.
• Contractor asks you to sign a contract that still has blank spaces and/or Contractor demands cash payment or full payment before work is completed.
• Contractor requests that you make a check payable to a person other than the owner or company name.
• Contractor refuses to provide references or proof of insurance when requested.
• Contractor offers “discount” prices that seem too good to be true.

• Do not open your door to contractors or salespeople unless you initiated the call.
• Check the contractor’s background, references, and prior work.
• Get at least three written estimates.
• Never sign a contract you do not understand or with blank spaces.
• Report a scam to the Office of the Attorney General.
• Contact the Office of the AttorneyGeneral, your local Chamber of Commerce or Better Business Bureau, for information.

HOW TO FILE A CONSUMER COMPLAINT

When submitting a consumer complaint, please supply all information requested on the consumer complaint form, including:
• Your complete address and phone number;
• The business’s address and phone number; and
• Copies of all supporting documentation.

The information you submit will be used by attorneys, investigators and other members of the Attorney General's staff.

If appropriate, the AG's office will forward a copy of your complaint to the person or business about which you are complaining. This information may also be shared with other governmental enforcement agencies responsible for consumer protection and other laws.

Complaint forms are public records which are subject to the Freedom of Information Act. If the AG's office recieves a request for copies of records that include your complaint, the office may be required to provide a copy of the complaint to the requester.

Information that would reveal your identity as a complainant is, however, exempt from disclosure and will be deleted from copies that are provided, allowing the requester to read your complaint without compromising your privacy.

Complaint forms may be downloaded from the Attorney General's Web site, www.IllinoisAttorneyGeneral.gov, or obtained by calling the consumer fraud hotline 1-800-386-5438 CHICAGO TTY: 1-800-964-3013 100 West Randolph Street Chicago, Illinois 60601

You can mail the complaint form and any other relevant documents to:
Office of Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Consumer Fraud Bureau
500 S. Second Street Springfield, Illinois 62706 or 100 W. Randolph Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601

Three-Day Right to Cancel

There are some misconceptions regarding this. According to the Illinois Attorney General,
Illinois law provides citizens with the right to cancel certain consumer transactions within three business days. However, many people mistakenly believe that you have a three-day right to cancel all transactions. In fact, this right applies only to certain types of purchases, as described below.

Door-to-Door Sales

A provision of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act allows citizens a three-day right to cancel door-to-door sales when the total transaction is for $25 or more and the seller solicits you in your home to purchase, lease or rent merchandise.

When you are solicited in your home, the seller must do the following: inform you orally and in writing of your right to cancel; provide the written notice of cancellation in the contract or on the receipt of purchase; and provide you with two copies of the notice (one to keep for your records and one to send to the seller in the event of cancellation).

Canceling a door-to-door sale

You must send the seller written notice within three full business days after the purchase date. Depending on the seller's regular hours of operation, "business days" may include weekends. For proof of the mailing date and the seller's receipt of cancellation, send the cancellation notice by certified mail and request a return receipt.

The seller must refund any deposit you made on the purchase within ten days of receiving your cancellation notice. You are not liable for any finance or other charges and the transaction is void.
You must make the merchandise available for pick-up by the seller or return the merchandise by mail to the seller at the seller's expense. If the property isn't picked up within 20 days after you made it available, you are entitled to keep the property without any obligation to pay for it.