How to choose a garage door technician in Collin County, TX

The short version

Texas has no garage door license to look up, so check the business instead. Before anyone starts work, make sure you know who they are and where they're based, what the whole job costs in writing, and what the warranty covers. Those three checks weed out most of the problems homeowners run into. The rest of this page explains each one, plus the questions worth asking on the phone.

Why there's no license to check

Some trades in Texas are licensed by the state; garage door work isn't one of them. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation's list of regulated programs includes air conditioning contractors, electricians and elevator safety, but no garage door program. The Texas Department of Public Safety says on its gate operators and garage door openers page that installers of openers don't need a DPS license unless the opener is connected to an alarm system or allows monitoring or logging of who comes and goes.

So if a company advertises that it's "state licensed" for garage doors, ask what license it means. For ordinary door and opener work, there isn't one.

1. Check that it's a real, local business

The Better Business Bureau's garage door repair scam alert warns about operators that use generic names that aren't registered with the state and a fake address or none at all. A few quick checks:

• Business name. LLCs and corporations are registered with the Texas Secretary of State, searchable on SOSDirect / SOSPortal for a $1.00 fee per search, or free through the Texas Comptroller's account status search. A sole proprietor trading under a business name files an assumed name certificate with the county clerk, under Texas Business and Commerce Code chapter 71.
• Address. Look it up on a map and in Street View. A shop or office is a good sign; a house that isn't theirs, a mailbox store or an empty lot is not.
• Consistency. The same name, address and phone number should appear on the website, the quote, the invoice and the van.
• Who comes out. Ask whether the technician is an employee or a subcontractor, and get their name.

2. Ask for proof of insurance

Both the BBB and the FTC's guide to avoiding home improvement scams tell homeowners to ask for proof of insurance. For garage door work, ask for a certificate of general liability insurance in the company's name, and check the dates. If the company has employees, it's fair to ask how they're covered for injuries on the job too.

3. Get a written, itemized quote before work starts

One of the most reported problems in this trade is a low advertised service call followed by a much bigger bill; the BBB lists it among its warning signs. The fix is a written quote that shows:

• Each part by name and quantity (for example, two torsion springs, their size and cycle rating)
• Labor and the service call or trip fee, and whether the trip fee is credited toward the repair
• Disposal of old parts, if charged
• The total, with tax
• Optional upgrades listed separately, so you can decline them

Ask the technician to show you any part they say is worn or broken. Replacing both torsion springs together is common practice, and This Old House's spring cost guide notes technicians usually recommend it; a list that adds rollers, cables, bearings and a new opener to a spring job deserves an explanation for each item. More in garage door repair scams.

4. Ask about permits

Permit rules vary by city and by the type of job, so don't assume either way. Ask: "Does this job need a city permit here, and will you pull it?" For the city-by-city picture, see the service area pages, or call your city's building inspections department.

5. Understand the warranty: parts vs labor

Parts and labor are usually warrantied separately, and "lifetime" can mean less than it sounds. The International Door Association warns in its consumer messaging toolkit that some "lifetime guarantees" cover the part but "the labor is not free and is often costly." Ask:

• How long is the warranty on the parts, and on the labor?
• Is there a service charge to use it?
• Is it in writing, on the invoice?

6. Check the track record

• BBB. Look the company up on BBB.org and read the complaints and how the company responded, not just the rating.
• Reviews that describe real jobs. A review naming the repair, the technician and the price paid is worth more than a pile of one-line five-star ratings.
• Search the name with "complaint" or "scam", as the FTC suggests.
• Ask people you know. Neighbors and HOA groups can point you to a local company that has been around a while.

Questions to ask when you call

1. "What is the total price for replacing both torsion springs on a 16x7 door, including the service call?" (Swap in your own repair and door size. A company that will only quote the service call is a warning sign.)
2. Is the service call fee credited toward the repair?
3. What's the business name and street address, and are you registered in Texas?
4. Will the technician be your employee or a subcontractor?
5. Can you send a certificate of general liability insurance?
6. What warranty do you give on parts, and separately on labor?
7. Do you charge more for evenings or weekends, and how much?
8. Will I get a written itemized quote before any work starts?

It helps to describe the problem clearly. The guides explain what to look for, and why a garage door won't open walks through the usual causes.

Red flags

• Won't give a total price, only a service call fee
• No verifiable street address, or an address that turns out to be a house, mailbox store or empty lot
• A generic keyword name you can't find registered anywhere
• Pressure to decide on the spot, or "today only" pricing
• Insisting the whole door, opener or every part must be replaced without showing you why
• A "lifetime" warranty that doesn't cover labor
• Full payment up front or cash only
• An unmarked vehicle and no identification

After-hours and emergencies

Many companies charge extra for nights, weekends and holidays; HomeAdvisor's spring repair cost guide tells homeowners to expect an additional fee for late-night or holiday repairs. Before paying for an after-hours visit, ask whether it can wait:

• Door closed with a broken spring, car inside: often it can wait for regular hours if you have another way to get around. Don't try to lift the door by hand.
• Door stuck open: a security problem, and more urgent. Keep people clear of it.
• Power outage with a working door: you can usually open it by hand. See how to open a garage door manually.

The emergency garage door repair page helps you decide what truly can't wait.

If something goes wrong

1. Raise it with the company first, in writing, with photos, the quote and the invoice.
2. File a complaint with the Texas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division through its online complaint form. Have the business name and full address, dates, amounts and your paperwork ready.
3. File a BBB complaint at bbb.org/file-a-complaint.
4. If you paid by card, ask your card issuer about disputing the charge.