How to Recognize and Avoid a Garage Door Repair Scam

The Art of Scamming – What is a Garage Door Scam?

A garage door scam begins with a very legitimate issue: a broken garage door. When your garage door is broken, you need it fixed fast – a broken garage door can really put a kink in your schedule.

Most homeowners who have a broken garage door and don’t know what’s wrong hop online to find a garage door repair specialist. This is where the scam happens – scammers use sites such as craigslist to advertise their unbelievable prices and garage door repair services. Thinking that everything looks legitimate, the homeowners calls the number on the ad, and the scammer sends a “technician” to their home to “fix” the problem.

More often than not, the problem is very simple. For example, the problem may be a misaligned photo eye, which usually can be corrected in under an hour for about $75. Because the homeowner doesn’t know any better, though, the scammer gets away with charging an absurd price – such as $350 – for the simple fix.

How to Recognize a Scam

This bait and scheme switch is common, and if you’re not careful, you may become a victim. The best way to recognize and avoid a garage door scam is to:

• Find a service technician using a reputable source – Craigslist is a great site, but can be one that scammers use to take advantage of honest customers.
• Check the garage door company’s credentials prior to hiring. Look the company up on the website of the Better Business Bureau and double check for any complaints.
• Learn about the garage door company’s history. How long has the company been in business? What is their experience? Do they have any positive reviews? Any negative ones?

Contact Us Today

At Affordable Garage Door, Inc., we have been serving customers in Lowell and surrounding areas for more than 30 years! We have the experience and skill set you’re looking for, and will never take advantage of your lack of garage door knowledge. We offer affordable prices that are designed to keep your business for years to come!

For your free quote, please contact us today. You can reach us online, or by calling us at 219-696-4279.