Katy, Texas resident Irene Lynn received an attorney demand letter seeking over $44,000 after her electronic signatures were applied to a contract for approximately $50,000 worth of windows. Lynn, an 85-year-old widow, contacted Renewal by Andersen following an advertisement.

Lynn alleged a salesperson asked her to sign an electronic tablet multiple times, stating the signatures were for an underwriter to generate a price quote. "I thought I was signing for the estimate of the window," Lynn said. She stated she refused to continue signing and repeatedly asked to review the paperwork first. Lynn did not receive copies of the documents until about a week to 10 days after signing them.

"When I read it, it says, 'You got three days before you sign this paper.' I didn't even have three days," she said. No windows have been installed at Lynn's home. "I didn't do any windows. Why am I owing this money?" Lynn said.

Sue Saba, a longtime friend of Lynn, stated Lynn's homeowners association never approved the project. "She was just asking for an estimate. She didn't say, 'I want brand-new windows today.' Just, 'Please give me an estimate,'" Saba said.

A district manager for Renewal by Andersen stated the company believes all required steps for installation had been completed, which may have been triggered by the signed documents. The manager added the company is reviewing the case to determine where confusion occurred.

An attorney from Lone Star Legal Aid stated that under Texas law, consumers who sign certain contracts in their homes are generally entitled to receive a cancellation form at the time they sign. "If the consumer does not get a copy of the form at the time they sign the contract, then the law says that the contract can be canceled," the attorney said. The attorney also noted that if a consumer receives cancellation paperwork after the three-day deadline has passed, there may be room to argue that the cancellation period starts on the date the consumer received the form.