AVOIDING HOME REPAIR FRAUD Please use extreme caution when con- LISA MADIGAN fronted with the following warning signs ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL 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 If you think you have been defrauded by a market price. contractor or have any questions, please bring your concerns to the attention of your State’s 2. Solicitations for repair work from a Attorney or the Illinois Attorney General’s company that lists only a telephone Office. number or a post office box number to contact, particularly if it is an out-of-state Attorney General’s company. Consumer Fraud Hotlines HOME REPAIR 3. Contractors who fail to provide KNOW YOUR customers references when requested. Springfield 1-800-243-0618 CONSUMER RIGHTS 4. Persons who offer to inspect your TTY: 1-877-844-5461 home for free. Do not admit anyone into your home unless he or she can present Chicago authentic identification establishing his 1-800-386-5438 or her business status. When in doubt, do TTY: 1-800-964-3013 not hesitate to call the worker’s employer to verify his or her identity. Carbondale 1-800-243-0607 5. Contractors who demand cash pay- TTY: 1-877-675-9339 ment 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 www.IllinoisAttorneyGeneral.gov the bank to withdraw funds to pay for the work. COMMUNIC APHIC ATION Printed by authority of the State of Illinois. 06/05.20M.0857 GR S IN This material is available in alternate format upon request. TERNATIONAL UNION Consumer Rights Acknowledgement CONTRACT TIPS 10. Remember, you should know who Form provides supplies and labor for any work Homeowner Keep This Part & Pamphlet 1. Get all estimates in writing. performed on your home. Suppliers and sub- I, the homeowner, have received from the contractors have a right to file a lien against 2. Do not be induced into signing a contract contractor a copy of the pamphlet titled your property if the general contractor fails to by high-pressure sales tactics. "Home Repair: Know Your Consumer pay them. To protect your property, request Rights." 3. Never sign a contract with blank spaces or lien waivers from the general contractor. one you do not fully understand. If you are ______________________________________ taking out a loan to finance the work, do not Signature (Homeowner) Date sign the contract before your lender approves BASIC TERMS TO BE INCLUDED the loan. IN A CONTRACT ______________________________________ Signature (Contractor or Representative) Date 4. Remember, you have three business days • Contractor’s full name, address, and from the time you sign your contract to cancel telephone number. Illinois law requires ______________________________________ any contract if the sale is made at your home. that persons selling home repair and Name of Contractor’s Business The contractor cannot deprive you of this improvement services provide their right by initiating work, selling your contract customers with notice of any change to ______________________________________ to a lender, or any other tactic. their business name or address that comes Address of Contractor’s Business about prior to the agreed dates for 5. If the contractor does business under a beginning or completing the work. name other than the contractor’s real name, • A description of the work to be performed. the business must either be incorporated or Consumer Rights Acknowledgement • Starting and estimated completion dates. registered under the Assumed Business Name Form • Total cost of work to be performed. Act. Check with the Secretary of State to see Contractor Keep This Part Only • Schedule and method of payment, if the business is incorporated or with the I, the homeowner, have received from the including down payment, subsequent county clerk to see if the business has regis- contractor a copy of the pamphlet titled payments, and final payment. tered under the Assumed Business Name Act. "Home Repair: Know Your Consumer • A provision stating the grounds for Rights." 6. Check with local and county units of gov- termination of the contract by either party. ernment to determine if permits or inspec- However, the homeowner must pay the ______________________________________ tions are required. contractor for work completed. If the Signature (Homeowner) Date contractor fails to commence or complete 7. Determine whether the contractor will work within the contracted time period, ______________________________________ guarantee his or her work and products. the homeowner may cancel and may be Signature (Contractor or Representative) Date entitled to a refund of any down payment 8. Determine whether the contractor has the or other payments made towards the work ______________________________________ proper insurance. upon written demand by certified mail. Name of Contractor’s Business 9. Do not sign a certificate of completion or Keep a copy of the signed contract in a safe make final payment until the work is done to ______________________________________ place for reference as needed. your satisfaction. Address of Contractor’s Business.