FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 12, 2015

MEDIA CONTACT: Abigail Lootens / Katyusca Abreu
Department of Consumer Affairs
(212) 436-0042
press@dca.nyc.gov

Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Julie Menin today issued a warning to New Yorkers about deceptive advertising by home improvement contractors that make claims about energy savings and offers of free goods or services without defining the conditions. A contractor cannot advertise claims about the energy efficiency of its work without provable facts if conditions are beyond their control. Also, as required by New York City law, a business that offers a “free” good or service must clearly state the conditions of the offer next to the word “free” and the condition must be at least half the font size of the word “free” in the ad. The warning comes on the heels of DCA’s settlement with Garden State Custom Windows, LLC (d/b/a Renewal by Andersen), a New Jersey-based contractor with a DCA home improvement contractor license to operate in New York City that also does work in Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland and several New Jersey counties.

“With the warm weather here, many homeowners may be looking to hire a home improvement contractor and we want New Yorkers to be aware of businesses that may take advantage of them with false advertising,” said DCA Commissioner Julie Menin. “Contractors cannot guarantee things like energy savings or claim a good or service will be free without clearly stating the conditions. I encourage anyone hiring a contractor to get our tips first and to only hire a licensed contractor.”

Garden State Custom Windows, which does business as Renewal by Andersen, ran at least three advertisements in the New York Post and Metro New York (images below) between September and November of 2014 that violated the City’s laws against deceptive advertising. The settlement resolves charges by DCA for running these deceptive advertisements, which claimed that the windows would be up to 70 percent more energy efficient without basing it on provable facts and offered free services to customers without defining the conditions. Under the settlement, the company agrees to remove the deceptive language from all advertising and promotional materials targeting New Yorkers, comply with all New York City laws and pay a fine.

DCA encourages New Yorkers to get their tips before hiring a home improvement contractor and, if they see false advertising or have a problem, to file a complaint with DCA at nyc.gov/consumers or by calling 311. New Yorkers can also tweet a tip to @NYCDCA and post to DCA’s Facebook page.