‘Today Show’ Host Uses Hidden Cameras on Garage Door Repairmen — and the Results Were Shocking

UPDATED 11/18/20

When you need garage doors, it’s often helpful to be able to use consumer reports to find out what the best companies are that can provide you with those doors. If you need garage door repairs, finding out about a company’s ratings can help you to know whether they are an honest company or not. Many people keep their garage storage furniture for use in the future. Without good doors, it would be impossible to keep items like furniture in good condition in a garage.

There are many other useful garage storage items that can be kept in the garage with the right tools for the job. When you have garage storage doors, it helps you to keep your items neat and in place in your garage. Because there are so many items that you may need for your yard and plants, you may also need garage tool hanging racks to keep all of these tools together and in good condition. Don’t let items become buried in your garage. With a few storage pieces, you can keep things in good condition as well as being able to find them when you need them. Have an organizational plan for your garage to make sure it stays that way.

It’s a familiar story for homeowners: they call a repair company for a minor issue only to be told they need a bunch of extra services instead. And it’s exactly what theandnbsp;Today Show’sandnbsp;Rossen Reports team, led by Jeff Rossen, found in a segment aired on Dec. 3.

The team visited a suburban home in Cross River, NY, to conduct its investigation of area garage door repair contractors. Before they began, they brought in two independent, certified experts who inspected the garage and confirmed that the garage door and all of its parts, including the opener, were in good operating condition.

In order to give the four contracting companies they called something to “fix,” the experts loosened the garage door sensor in order to prevent the door from closing. The homeowner then contacted four area contractors to repair the issue, with hidden cameras placed around the garage to observe them.

The first garage door repair technician to arrive found the problem within a matter of seconds. He tightened the bolt on the sensor, charged a modest service fee of $80 and went on his way.

But that’s where the team’s luck ran out, and the next three contractorsandnbsp;got gradually worse as the day went on.

The second to arrive told the homeowner she needed brand new sensors and charged her $210. When Rossen and his camera crew confronted the contractors, they maintained their innocence and drove off; later that day, the company contacted NBC News and claimed to have a “flawless customer service record.”

The third contractor didn’t even inspect the sensor before telling the homeowner it was “no good” and wanted to charge her over $400. He declined comment and drove away once the reporters confronted him.

Finally, the last repairman displayed the most shocking behavior: not only did he want to replace the sensors, but he told the homeowner that the pulleys on her garage door needed replacement, as well.

His charge? A staggering $683, plus tax — all for completely unnecessary work.

The two experts pointed out that the doors were in perfect working conditions, and the repairman simply concluded, “We all make mistakes.”

In all, three of the four contractors charged for unnecessary parts and services.

Garage doors have appeared in the news all around the country, as more burglars use them to break into the homes of unsuspecting families. Six garages in a Pittsburgh, PA, suburb have been broken into and ransacked so far this December.

Add in the cold winter weather, which can lead to malfunctions like stuck garage doors, and there’s plenty that can lead homeowners to call a local garage door repair company.

“Cold weather can wreak havoc on garage doors, freezing temperatures can cause problems with alignmentandnbsp;when metal parts start to contract,” says Jim Null, Owner of Durbin Garage Doors. “If it’s really cold out, parts can become brittle and more vulnerable to breaking. It’s important not to let urgency lead to carelessness in choosing an honest, qualified, professional. The best way for homeowners to protect themselves from being swindled, is to ask questions. If someone says, ‘it’s broken, you need a new one, and it’ll be X dollars to fix/replace it,’ homeowners should ask them to show them exactly where and what the problem is, what they did to test it, and what may have caused it.”

At the end of the segment, Rossen also gave his suggestions to homeowners to keep them safe from contractor fraud.

Viewers were warned that repair services should always display signage on their vehicles. None of the companies that arrived at the house in Cross River, even the one that did a good job, had any company names displayed on their trucks.

Rossen also told viewers to ask friends and family for recommendations and check with local consumer reports agencies to find a reputable and licensed repair service.

The garage is an especially vulnerable part of the house.andnbsp; Entrance into the garage means your vehicle and possessions are exposed, and the garage tends to be far enough away from where people sleep, a break in may not even be detected. Additionally, the garage often has open access to the home, giving intruders a potential in. Looking for professional garage door repair service can ensure your garage stays safe and secure.andnbsp;

It is up to the homeowner to do their due diligence when looking for garage door repair service. When determining if a garage door contractor is right for your situation check local reviews and ask friends or family members for a personal recommendation. Knowing someone who personally contracted with a professional garage door repair service can put your mind at ease when it comes to the work being performed. Garage door contractors thrive on word of mouth advertising. The best way to avoid unprofessional garage door service is to be aware of the quality of work that has been done in the past.

If you need a garage door repair, and you’re unsure about the quality of your local repair company, you may be able to get estimates from them to find out what’s wrong so you can choose the service that charges the least. Don’t be afraid to use the internet to try to figure out what the problem might be so you have some idea of what to ask about if your garage door opener repair manual doesn’t have the information you need. If it’s a more obvious problem, like a broken pully or destroyed door, you should be able to find out estimates over the phone.

No matter who choose to handle garage door repairs, make sure you pay attention to what they’re doing and do your research so you don’t end paying for repairs you don’t need.

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