ATTORNEY GENERAL WARNS CONSUMERS OF UNAPPROVED HURRICANE PROTECTION FOR WINDOWS

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued a consumer
 advisory warning Floridians about window film companies that have sold or
 are selling products to residential homeowners as “hurricane protection.”
 The implied benefits leave homeowners with a false sense of security, and
 ultimately very vulnerable to the destructive forces of hurricane winds
 and flying debris.

 Through information gathered from the International Hurricane Protection
 Association (IHPA), investigators have determined that aggressive sales
 tactics may have misled some homeowners to believe the hurricane
 protection for windows has been approved for residential as well as
 commercial use, when in reality the film protection advertised has only
 been approved for commercial use. The Florida Building Code compliant
 forms of hurricane protection contain no approval(s) for film applied to a
 residential structure. The consumer must be aware that passing some but
 not all testing does not qualify a product for approval.

 Purportedly, some window film companies are also falsely claiming that by
 purchasing the window film for residential use, the homeowner will be
 eligible for an insurance discount. In reality, the insurance industry may
 not recognize this discount because the window film does not meet the
 standards for use in a residential home.

 Recently, the International Window Film Association (IWFA) has began
 issuing manufacturer and dealer alerts in an effort to make sure companies
 are adhering to proper business procedures. While most members are
 following proper advertising and sales practices, some are not.
 Additionally, not all film manufacturers are part of the IWFA, therefore
 they are not held to the same standards.

 Attorney General McCollum offers the following recommendations to
 consumers to avoid falling victim to dealers who may be misrepresenting
 the film’s capabilities:

 ·      Ask to see the product approval and the corresponding number;

 ·      Go to www.floridabuilding.org and/or www.miamidade.gov/buildingcode/
 to assure that the number supplied is verifiable;

 ·      Check with your local building department. Most building departments
 require a permit to install hurricane protection; and

 ·      Report any company that is making fraudulent claims about window
 film.

 Consumers who believe they may be victims of fraud may contact the
 Attorney General’s fraud hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226) or
 file an online complaint at http://myfloridalegal.com.
 

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