The National Association Against Consumer Fraud





	Windows and Doors What to look for when selecting an ethical window and door company: Do your research, understand what you are looking at and compare. Know how the energy efficient ratings work as well as the differences between wood and aluminum windows. Call more than one company to get a baseline for the pricing. Make sure you understand the differences in the lowest and highest priced options. Look for a company that will give you more than one option and type of windows and doors. Smaller companies may only have one choice available. Look for a company that displays their Contractor's license on all business cards, marketing materials and contracts. Make a copy of the license and check it out on the appropriate government website or call the state and verify it. They should show you a copy of their insurance cover letter. Make sure they show you proof of general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance to protect you if your property is damaged or if someone is injured working on your property. Check the date on the general liability and check the limits. If your contractor uses subcontractor's make sure they are insured also. Verify and actually call references, not just the last three customers. Ask how they handle problems and complaints. Also, get documentation on all product and installation warranties. Make sure any warranty you receive is in the manufacturer's name. Contractor must provide a minimum 1 year warranty on labor. Be aware that a lifetime warranty is defined as seven years. This is limited by what's in your contract so read the fine print. Get everything in writing. Make sure what is in the contract is on company stationary and is itemized and is inclusive of the total price. In older homes, be aware that replacing windows can be difficult and you could incur extra charges for removing old windows. If you ever have any questions regarding a contract we recommend consulting an attorney. Be aware you have the right to cancel any contract you signed within 72 business hours. Make sure any contractor you deal with that wants you to sign an agreement over $2500.00 provides you with a notice of commencement. This needs to be notarized and signed by you and the contractor. This notice need to be filed with the appropriate government agency before a permit can be pulled. Find out if the sales staff is commissioned based. If it is, be careful you're not sold more than you actually want and need. Never be pressured into making a decision in one day. You may be offered incentives to hurry and sign a contract. Today's price should be the same as tomorrows. Make sure any product they show you can be found on the manufacturer's website. Go to the website and verify the information on the product. Make sure the company has a physical location. Be aware that the State of Florida provides protection to consumers. Any residential general contractor should have on their contract a Notice of Consumer Rights under the Construction Industries Recovery Fund. This may protect consumers up to $50,000.00. What to avoid when selecting a company in this industry: A company that does not show you their insurance. If someone is injured on the job and is not insured, the consumer may be liable. Why take that chance? Companies that do not show you proof of a valid contractors license. Make sure it's the right class of license. Check with the state agency. Companies that will not provide you a detailed estimate, everything needs to be in writing and itemized before you place an order. If applicable, make sure a notice of commencement is notarized and filed. Never ever do business with a company that asks you to pull a permit. Companies that ask for excessive deposits. Companies that pressure you into buying. Companies that will not let you call their customers. You get what you pay for. If you want a qualified and licensed specialist, you may need to pay a little more, but in most cases it is money well spent. Be cautious of companies without a physical location. It is also our opinion to stay away from companies and individuals that do not specialize in windows and doors. Companies that do not do criminal background checks on their workers.	After interviewing and running an extensive background check the National Association Against Consumer Fraud has awarded the following business a listing in The Business A-List: Clear Choice USA Orlando 2372 N. Forsyth Rd. Orlando, FL 32807 Phone (407) 671-9990 www.clearchoiceorl.com Clear Choice USA Orlando is a locally owned company with a corporate network of licenses. We utilize only experienced professional installers. We pride ourselves on giving our customers options for saving money on window replacement. There are no hidden charges or excessive fees and we do not believe in gimmicks or high pressure sales tactics. Our pre-written contract is always shown to customers. We are an owner operated company with a “Hands On Approach”. We look forward to the opportunity to meet your needs and provide you with the highest quality products and service available in our industry. Customer Satisfaction is something you can count on with Clear Choice USA Orlando.


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