The 6 Warning Signs to Know
According to the DGCCRF, the humidity treatment sector is among the most reported for misleading commercial practices. Here are the red flags:
| Warning sign | Risk | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Aggressive cold calling | Very high | Prohibited since 2023 for energy renovation work |
| Alarmist 'free' diagnosis | High | Fear-based sales technique to force quick signing |
| Deposit request > 30% | High | Legal maximum: 30% at signing (excluding special cases) |
| No ten-year guarantee | Critical | Mandatory for all structural work |
| Vague quote without details | High | Must mention: surfaces, products, unit prices, deadlines |
| Pressure to sign immediately | Very high | Mandatory 14-day withdrawal period |
📊 Case study: Scam avoided in Lyon
❌ First quote (suspicious)
- • Unsolicited cold calling
- • Alarmist "free diagnosis"
- • Quote of €18,500 for 15 lm
- • Pressure to sign the same day
- • Deposit requested: 50%
✓ Comparative quotes obtained
- • Company A (Qualibat): €4,200
- • Company B: €5,800
- • Company C: €4,600
- • Savings achieved: €13,700
Lesson: A 340% discrepancy for the same work! Requesting several quotes made it possible to avoid a scam and save more than €13,000.
The 8 Mandatory Details of a Compliant Quote
Full contact details
Company name, address, telephone, email, SIRET
Ten-year insurance number
With insurer's name and validity date
Detailed description of the work
Nature, location, surfaces concerned
Products used
Brand, reference, technical characteristics
Unit and total prices including tax
Labor and supplies separated
Completion time
Start date and estimated duration of work
Quote validity period
Usually 1 to 3 months
Warranties
Ten-year guarantee + specific warranty (10-30 years)
How to Check a Company?
Mandatory checks
- SIRET: infogreffe.fr
- Ten-year insurance: ask for the current certificate
- Qualibat: qualibat.com
- Reviews: Google, Yellow Pages (verified reviews)
Questions to ask
- • How long have you been in business?
- • Can you give me local references?
- • What is the intervention time?
- • What specific warranty on the treatment?
- • Is the diagnosis really free and non-binding?
- • Which brands of products do you use?
Obtain Reliable Quotes
We have selected certified and verified professionals throughout France. Free diagnosis, non-binding, with ten-year guarantee.
Sources and references
This article relies on official, verified sources to guarantee reliable information.
- [1]Building consumer guide— Qualitel
- [2]Consumer rights— Service Public
- [3]Reporting fraud— DGCCRF
- [4]Ten-year guarantee— FFB
Rédaction ZeroHumi
ZeroHumi editorial team
Technical documentation verified against the cited sources (ADEME, ANSES, WHO, CSTB, CEREMA)