Choosing the right professional is crucial when it comes to determining whether a project will be successful or turn into a nightmare. You may have undoubtedly heard unsettling stories about garage door repairmen who performed subpar work, collected their payment, and then vanished. In some unfortunate instances, they even exacerbated the initial issues. Even when dealing with a licensed garage door contractor, the process of repairing a garage door can be exceptionally stressful.

Fortunately, there are ways to steer clear of dishonest garage door repair companies and prevent them from working on your garage door. In this context, here is some valuable information on how to protect yourself from scammers and a handful of tips to assist you in locating the right professional who can effectively complete the job.

Verify the Company’s License and Address

Many dishonest businesses resort to using fake business names and fraudulent addresses, such as those associated with shopping centers, apartment buildings, gas stations, and parking lots.

Before you decide to hire a garage door repair company, it’s advisable to properly verify the information pertaining to the individual or entity you’re considering. You can easily accomplish this by confirming their contractor license and address through official sources that are applicable to your specific location.

For instance, consumers in California can validate garage door repair companies via the CSLB (Contractors State License Board) website by performing a search using the business name or contractor license. If the search returns a message stating, “License Number does not exist” or if the provided address doesn’t align with your local area, it’s advisable to steer clear of the company and explore other options.

Avoid Call Centers and Lead Generation Companies

If you find yourself connected to a call center, it’s highly probable that they will collect your information and then subcontract the job to an external individual or entity. It’s essential to bear in mind that lead generation companies primarily prioritize generating leads and boosting sales. Consequently, they frequently offer services and discounts that may appear excessively enticing or too good to be true.

How would you know if you’ve reached a call center?

• They typically use a fake contractor license number. In some cases, they cannot provide any license number and may require extra time to retrieve this information.
• They often use generic company names such as ‘City Name Garage Door Repair.’
• They frequently offer substantial discounts and extremely low service call fees.
• Their listed location either doesn’t exist, or if it does, it’s closed with a sign stating ‘by appointments only.’

This type of business model would care less about their services and their customers and would instead prioritize sales and upselling. It’s worth noting that even a local phone number can connect you to an out-of-state or even out-of-country call center.

Furthermore, when dealing with lead generation companies and large garage door repair firms, your funds likely flow to investors and sources located outside your state. You can find more information about the advantages of supporting local businesses and hiring a local garage door repair company here.

Look for a Brand and Brand Name

A reputable company strives to make a lasting and impactful impression, which is why it typically has a distinct brand, logo, and a cohesive graphic language across its marketing materials. Such companies invest time in selecting a distinctive business name and allocate resources for a graphic designer to translate their ideas into a visual brand identity.

On the other hand, lead generation or fly-by-night garage door repair companies may not prioritize branding and often use generic business names like:

• ‘City Name’ Garage Doors.
• ‘City Name’ Garage Door Service.
• ‘City Name’ Garage Door Repair.

If you are searching on the internet, the same principle applies to a website’s domain name. A reputable garage door company will typically have a unique, branded domain name. In contrast, lead generation or fly-by-night garage door companies will likely have generic domain names such as:

• www.SomeCityGarageDoors.com
• www.SomeCityGarageDoorService.com
• www.GarageDoorRepairSomeCity.com

People are more inclined to engage with a company that radiates legitimacy. Consequently, a reputable business prioritizes creating a professional image, which in turn fosters credibility and trust among its customers.

For example, here’s a fraudulent garage door company that you may want to avoid. In this example, we can identify five red flags:

1. They use a generic business name: ‘Costa Mesa Garage Door Repair. ‘
2. They offer a low $19 service call fee, which is a well-known scam in the garage door industry.
3. They use a generic domain name: ‘costa mesa ca garage doors.’
4. Their information doesn’t exist on the CSLB website.
5. They link to other lead generation websites that they own.

Another example, the lead generation garage door company ‘Heritage’ has a history of misleading and deceiving consumers in Southern California, including Huntington Beach and San Diego, into believing that they are a local company located nearby. Here are four red flags to watch out for:

1. Their ‘offices’ are vacant.
2. They have signs indicating ‘by appointments only’.
3. Their location, when confirmed on the CSLB website, is in Murrieta.
4. They offer garage door repair services at a substantial discount.

Despite their convincing appearance, this company operates as a call center that dispatches technicians from a Murrieta location and lacks any local presence in Orange County or San Diego.

While there can be exceptions to every rule (as demonstrated in the Murrieta company example), a reputable garage door company is likely to have a well-constructed website. They invest in building trust and authority by sharing valuable information, experiences, and knowledge, as they are committed to long-term success.

Recognizing Deceptive Garage Door Advertising

Lead generation and fly-by-night garage door companies typically utilize certain advertising techniques, including offering significant discounts, promising a 15-minute response time, and requesting a minimal service fee for evaluation, such as $15, $19, $25, or $29, along with other bait-and-switch practices.

It’s typical for a legitimate garage door company to charge a fee for traveling to the customer’s home, evaluating, and diagnosing the problem. In fact, it often costs more than $29 for a licensed garage door repair company just to answer your call. Licensed companies must maintain an up-to-date business license and manage expenses related to vehicles, insurance, marketing, and employees.

How to Stay Ahead of Scammers?

The most effective way to avoid falling victim to garage door repair fraud is to proactively search for a reputable professional before the need arises. Keep their contact information in your phone or on file, ensuring you’re prepared for any potential emergency garage door service or same-day repairs.

Even if you’re currently in need of a garage door repair specialist, keep in mind the information and tips mentioned above. A quick search on the CSLB website can often help you differentiate between a legitimate garage door repair professional and a dispatcher working for a fly-by-night or lead generation garage door business model.