Avoiding Home Repair Fraud Illinois

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

1. Door-to-door salespersons 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 customers references when requested.

4. Persons 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.

Illinois 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. Remember, 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 this right by initiating work, selling your contract to a lender, or any other tactic.

5. If the contractor does business 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 business has registered under the Assumed Business Name Act.

6. 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.

10. Remember, you should know who provides supplies and labor for any work performed on your home. Suppliers and subcontractors have a right to file a lien against
your property if the general contractor fails topay them. To protect your property, request
lien waivers from the general contractor.