Home Depot Exposed - Gouging Customers for Remodeling Projects

For some people, the Home Depot brand is synonymous with Home Improvement. But in the last few months, at least in California, the once trusted brand has become associated with far less desirable words - “nightmare”, “horror story”, and now “fraud”.

Home Depot is being investigated by KNBC in Los Angeles for ripping off customers.

KNBC (NBC4 TV) reports that these allegations are backed up by statements from Home Depot insiders (former salespeople and subcontractors).

NBC4 has heard from customers in 22 states and from insiders from across the country, who have given NBC4 a paper trail of internal documents, suggesting the company overcharges customers on window and siding installations, kitchen remodels and on roofing jobs.
– Joel Grover and Matt Goldberg, NBC4 TV

In October 2006 when the investigation started, KNBC’s focus was on service issues in California. Now, it’s gone all the way to outright fraud, with complaints from across the nation.

Home Depot’s response to this latest charge has been to apologize for the situation and promise to investigate. “We have no practice overcharging customers in any way, shape or form”.

It’s a fascinating, if unsettling, read. The video should be up later this morning.

Home Depot Investigation - Part 3 - Article and Video on NBC4 TV

Home Depot Investigation - Part 2

Home Depot Investigation - Part 1

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 28th, 2007 at 5:18 am and is filed under In Your City, News & Analysis, Hiring a Contractor, Remodeling, Consumer Action, Home Improvement, Renovations, States, California. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.