You are running late. You have to catch a flight and on the way drop your children off and pick up some things from your office. You load your car, ready to go and press the button to open the garage door. The motor whirs but the door does not open. Later, in the airport lounge you Google “repair garage door.” You click on an ad that offers quick repairs, you check the website and the company looks legitimate so you call. They reply, “Service, please can I help you?”
They state there is a $95 fee for the service call. You book a visit when your partner is home.
A few days later you see the bill. It is for over $500. Is this reasonable?
Cables eventually wear out and break and their repair is routine. Aurora Overhead Door charges a total of $130 for the cables and labour.
An actual invoice from a customer who was overcharged $300
Unfortunately, there are a large number of scam companies that take advantage of people who need an emergency repair and don’t have the time to check their legitimacy. These companies advertise using Google Adwords and have websites that are apparently genuine but they do not have a real location. They are “virtual.” They routinely charge customers for work that is unnecessary. The invoice shown here lists a set of cables, a set of drums, the service call and labour for a total of $458.00 before tax.
The invoice shown here is real and we hear about this happening all the time. Garage door service scams have been documented by the CBC.
If you have a complaint you will not be able to find these rogue operators. Launch a legal action or complain to the Better Business Bureau… you will not get any satisfaction.
In the United States Google is clamping down on these virtual operators and only allowing accredited businesses to advertise. Eventually, they will ban them from advertising in Canada. But not yet.
When you book a service call verify that the service company is real. When booking an appointment ask for their company name and address, and then check the address on Google Maps.
Aurora Overhead Doors has been providing trusted service in York Region for 40 years.