ABSTRACT
As I was writing this chapter, I heard a knock on my door. It was a home improvement contractor asking me if I would like an estimate to have my driveway resurfaced. It was a classic example of a consumer transaction involving both goods and services. Nevertheless, consumers should think twice before entering into home improvement contracts of all kinds. Real diligence is especially in order when responding to unsolicited door-to-door offers. Door-to-door sales and services have a long history of consumer fraud. In this case, the contractor had solid references from neighbors and was not known for shoddy work. Mailings and telephone calls provide another popular avenue for consumer fraud. Recently, I received a fraudulent email solicitation that announced me as the winner of an international lottery: “Congratulations! You may receive a certified check for up to $400,000,000 U.S. CASH! One lump sum! Tax free! Your odds to WIN are 1-6. . . . Hundreds of U.S. citizens win every week using our secret system! You can win as much as you want!”
