Cancel a Contract with Garage Door Repair Contractor

Working with a garage door repair contractor can yield different experiences from state to state. In this article, we will talk about the laws, both federal and local, as they relate to the state of California.

There may be times when homeowners may want to try to take renovations and projects like garage door repair or replacement into their own hands without using a garage door repairman. This is not only because of the rise in popularity of DIY projects driven by increasing prices of services and related goods, but because many people are concerned about signing a contract with a garage door contractor who doesn't entirely understand how everything works.

Even so, in a lot of these cases, landlords and homeowners that need to replace or repair their garage door will work with a garage door company to get the job done since work on garage doors can be difficult, especially for amateurs. This is because modern garage doors are made using many intricate parts and involve extreme mechanical forces that are generated from the garage door springs. It is also entirely possible that there are not enough resources available for DIY garage door installers to work with.

What many don't realize is that a home improvement contract is a binding agreement, and many such contracts do allow buyers and homeowners to cancel those contracts at any time without obligation or penalty as long as it is done within three business days and in writing. Garage door repair and service contacts include opener replacement and repair, spring replacement, rollers replacement, emergency service and off-track service are excluded from the three business days law.

State and Federal Laws Pertaining to Hiring a Garage Door Repair Contractor

Federal laws regulate and govern such contracts. According to the DCS, the California Home Solicitation Sales Act promises that if a transaction takes place in someone's home, then the owner can cancel that contract without any penalties as long as it is done in three business days. The California Business and Professions Code covers this three-business day cancellation process. This section adds to the Truth in Lending Federal Act that says the buyer has protection in any situation in which the contract is non-negotiable, so long as the process takes place within that three-business day window. This is done to protect the buyer and make sure that are not forced into a contract they don't want to be involved in anymore.

There are of course some exceptions to this rule. Every law herein contains some sort of limitation or exception that is unique to each one instead of being broadly described across the various laws. It is a good idea to ensure you wholly understand these laws and their exceptions fully before committing to the contract or deciding to cancel it.

For instance, the California Home Solicitation Sales Act only has a single application if the deal happens somewhere outside of the place of business of the seller or in the personal home of the buyer. Though many people would expect this to mean somewhere outside of the office walls of the seller, this isn't always true. If the seller often makes deals at county fairs or swap meets, then these areas also become the place of business. If you make a deal in one of these locations, then the three-business day cancellation that is proposed by the Home Solicitation Act is no longer on the table.

A lot of contracts will also become void following some kind of a disaster. This includes natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, fires, earthquakes or other such events that see a state of emergency declared because of them. The Act then states that the offer for garage door repair or replacement will become void automatically if the contract was signed away from the trade premises. The contract will also be voided if the disaster caused any sort of damage to the house, but this has to happen before the seventh business day after the damage occurred.

Conversely, even if the requirements are met for the void, the contract does not become void if the insurance representative of the consumer solicited the contract. In cases such as this, it doesn't matter at all where the contract was signed.

These are just a few instances of the intricate laws regarding contracts for garage door repairs and home improvement. Each one is specific to California, so if you are in another state looking to hire a contractor, it is a good idea to get familiar with the local and federal laws pertaining to this in your area. You can do this by searching online and ensuring you have a good grasp of the intricacies before settling on a garage door repairman. As long as you are well versed in the laws, you can comfortably move forward by signing a contract without any trepidation.