Contractor Problems in Illinois: Complaints and Your Options

Where to file a complaint

The Attorney General's page links to a Consumer Complaint On-Line Submission Form and lists hotlines in Chicago (1-800-386-5438), Springfield (1-800-243-0618) and Carbondale (1-800-243-0607). Source

Contract and cancellation rules

The Attorney General's brochure says you have three business days from signing to cancel any contract if the sale is made at your home, and that homeowners age 65 or older have up to 15 business days if they signed with an uninvited solicitor in the home. The office's home repair page (Source) words this differently: seniors over the age of 65 have up to 15 business days for a contract made and signed at home. If you plan an insurance claim, the brochure says you may cancel within five business days after a written denial or within 30 days after sending the claim, whichever comes first. The office's 2019 fact sheet (Source) says that for home repair contracts over $1,000 you have the right to a written contract or work order describing the work and total cost. Source

Liens on your home

The Attorney General's brochure says that before you pay, the Mechanics Lien Act requires that you request, and the contractor give you, a signed and notarized Sworn Statement listing the people or companies your contractor hired and the amounts owed. It says suppliers and subcontractors have a right to file a lien against your home if they are not paid, and that you should also obtain lien waivers if appropriate. It does not state notice deadlines. Source

This is general information, not legal advice. A topic we don't list means we couldn't confirm it on an official page, not that the protection doesn't exist.

Illinois licensing and costs · All states

General information, not professional advice. Conditions, codes and prices vary. Turn off power, gas or water before any work, and hire a licensed professional when in doubt. Cost figures are our estimates, not quotes.