Plumbing, locksmithing, heating… 60% of anomalies in 600 home repairer checks

Frauds are made possible by well-established techniques. The General Directorate for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) announced on Monday that it had detected 60% of anomalies in the home repair sector, out of 600 inspections of professionals carried out in 2024.

"To the detriment of loyal professionals, unscrupulous and even criminal actors are operating in this sector, taking advantage of the emergency situation and the vulnerability of consumers," states the DGCCRF press release.

In 2024, the Signal Conso platform set up by the agency recorded nearly 2,600 reports in several areas: "plumbing, locksmithing , heating, roofing and even electricity." These reports led the Fraud Prevention Agency to inspect 600 professionals.

Fraud techniques focus on well-oiled communication. Professionals create an environment that attracts consumers with deceptive advertising in the form of flyers and websites reproducing well-known brands.

"Once contacted by consumers, these professionals encourage them to immediately carry out work at very high prices, taking advantage of the emergency situation." Then, "no written documents are given to these consumers, to make any dispute more difficult."

Mainly in urban areas, the home repair sector is identified as "particularly prone to fraud." Very often, professionals who engage in "scoundrel" behavior "take advantage of an emergency situation and the vulnerability of their customers to use unfair business practices," according to the Fraud Prevention Agency.

"In 2024, DGCCRF investigators issued 189 warnings, 195 compliance injunctions, 67 administrative fines and 64 reports," the press release states.

To address these abuses, the Ministry of the Economy's agency is launching a consumer prevention campaign through social media.