Window sellers need to be transparent in their marketing. Roofers need to stay on top of the law. And home siding installers shouldn’t sidle up to consumers with inappropriately high-pressure sales pitches.

That’s the gist of a letter sent Tuesday by the Washington Attorney General’s Office to more than 30 home remodelers around the state, according to a state press release.

“We want the home remodeling industry to do a makeover on their bad sales practices,” said Assistant Attorney General Jack Zurlini of the office’s Consumer Protection Division.

He said the letter is a general notice to educate businesses about unlawful practices, and doesn’t necessarily mean that recipients are breaking the law.

Among the attorney general’s list of no-no’s:

• Inflated retail prices and bogus discounts: Officially called “false reference pricing” under the law, this scheme has been illegal for more than 70 years. It occurs when companies misrepresent that consumers are buying at a substantially discounted price.
• High-pressure sales: Consumers are told that if they don’t buy now, the price will be higher in the future.
• Fraudulent endorsements: Companies exaggerate awards or Better Business Bureau ratings to appear better than their competitors.

Complaints can be filed online at www.atg.wa.gov or request a complaint form by calling the Consumer Resource Center at 1-800-551-4636 between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. weekdays.