Carroll Senior Protection Bill Passes House

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Legislation sponsored by state Rep. Jonathan Carroll, D-Northbrook, that would give seniors more time to review and cancel fraudulent door-to-door contracts passed the Illinois House.

“Seniors are far too often the targets of door-to-door scams that can have expensive consequences,” said Carroll. “The legislation I’m sponsoring will offer senior residents over two weeks to review and cancel it, if they deem necessary.”

Carroll’s House Bill 2643 would give seniors aged 65 and older up to 15 days to cancel unsolicited home remodeling contracts made on the homeowner’s property, raising it from the current 3 days seniors have to cancel. Scammers are constantly targeting seniors, especially after natural disasters and accidents occur. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) maintains a website with helpful tips to avoid falling for a scammer: https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/home-improvement.html.

“Seniors are often preyed upon and are easily persuaded into giving their money away in the hopes that they are protecting themselves,” said Carroll. “I want to provide our seniors with as much support as they need in order to protect themselves from these phony schemes.”