Public Court & License Records: The Documented Texas Garage Door Operation
Because garage-door scams thrive on confusion, we believe in pointing homeowners to the public record. Below is a sourced index of court dockets, a California licensing action, and news investigations involving a long-documented Texas garage-door operation associated with the Stephens / Kyoung Lee family of Carrollton, Texas. Every item links to a primary source or the docket where it can be pulled.
1. Federal court cases (verified via CourtListener)
| Case | Court | Docket # | Filed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denham v. Global Distribution Services, Inc. | S.D. California | 3:18-cv-01495 | 2018-06-29 | Caption groups Global Distribution Services, Global Development Strategies, Lead Driver LLC, Employee Retention Services LLC, and Neighborhood Garage Door Services Inc together — the interlocking entities in one case. |
| Redmon v. Global Distribution Services, Inc. (dba America's Alliance / America's Choice Garage Door Service) | S.D. Texas | 4:17-cv-01102 | 2017-04-10 | Names the "America's Alliance / America's Choice" trade names. |
| Redmon v. Global Distribution Services, Inc. | S.D. Texas | 4:17-cv-01119 | 2017-04-11 | Companion case. |
| Garage Door Services of Houston, Inc. v. Global Distribution Services, Inc. | W.D. Texas | 5:14-cv-00373 | 2014-04-24 | Trademark dispute over the "GDS" name. |
| Valpak Direct Marketing Systems, LLC v. Neighborhood Garage Door Service, Inc. | M.D. Florida | 8:25-cv-02809 | 2025-10-14 | Marketing/creditor dispute. |
Primary docket (Denham): CourtListener #8059144.
2. California license revocation & citations
- CSLB Accusation No. N2015-398 against Global Development Strategies Inc, dba Garage Door Services — Contractor's License #927739; principal named Marlene Stephens (CEO/President); 45 causes for discipline, repeatedly describing conduct as "unlawful, unfair or fraudulent." Primary PDF: CSLB Accusation.
- On Dec. 8, 2017, California completely revoked license #927739, with a five-year ban from doing business in the state (per industry reporting).
- On Sept. 30, 2019, CSLB issued an administrative citation against Neighborhood Garage Door Services — 10 alleged violations, a $5,000 penalty; appealed and forwarded to the California Attorney General's office (license person of record reported as Jason Romaszewski, "Jason Romo").
3. News & industry investigations
- CBS Texas (CBS 11), Cristin Severance — "Company Named 'Worst In The Nation' By Industry," Oct. 19, 2015. Link
- Door + Access Systems (DASMA), Tom Wadsworth — "California Issues Citation to Neighborhood Garage Door Services," Winter 2019. PDF
- Dateline NBC hidden-camera report on the Dallas operation (originally AA Able Overhead Door, founder reported as Peter "Pete" Stephens Jr., later America's Choice). Write-up
- NBC4 Los Angeles, Randy Mac — investigative report, Nov. 7, 2018 (reported).
4. The corporate web
Public BBB profiles place the operation at 3044 Old Denton Rd, Suite 111-305, Carrollton, TX 75007, listing Kyoung Lee as Executive Director/CEO/President and Forrest Perry as Vice President across related entities — Neighborhood Garage Door Service, Inc. and Global Distribution Services, Inc. Related/again-branded names reported over time include Garage Door Services (GDS), Global Development Strategies, Yes Garage Door Services, America's Alliance, and America's Choice — the recycle-the-name pattern.
5. Documented overcharging (public BBB complaints & TV news)
Examples below are drawn from public BBB complaints against these entities and from televised consumer reporting. Amounts and quotes are as published by those sources.
| What the customer reported | Charged | Comparison | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior quoted $1,300, haggled to $1,000, then $790 for a spring | $790 | $200–$300 elsewhere | BBB (NGDS), 2/6/2024 |
| 18-year-old charged for a job another company did same month | $625 | $240 elsewhere | BBB (NGDS), 1/24/2024 |
| $39 advertised quote turned into a bill collected before work was finished | $285.56 | $39 advertised | BBB (NGDS), 9/12/2023 |
| Warranty dismissed; labor charged after assurance parts were covered | $2,123.37 ($962 parts + $1,161 labor) | — | BBB (NGDS), 12/18/2023 |
| Company "admitted double billed for labor," cut bill only after repeated calls, then sent to collections | $1,701.32 (cut to $1,239.34) | $500–$600 (3 other companies) | BBB (Global Distribution), 2/21/2024 |
| Senior: ~5 minutes repositioning keypad batteries after a $39 quote | $89 labor + 3% card fee | $39 quoted | BBB (Global Distribution), 6/7/2024 |
| Spring job failed in ~3 months; another company fixed it | $649 | $303 (replacement co.) | BBB (Global Distribution), 6/3/2024 |
| Cable put back on the spool; "coupon" offered down to $240 | $340 quoted | ~half, two competitors | CBS Texas, 2015 |
Two details stand out in the public record:
- A complainant attached what they described as the company's own internal instructions telling technicians to "look for targets of opportunities" to upsell springs, rollers, pulleys, and motors. (BBB, Global Distribution Services, 2/15/2024)
- CBS Texas quoted the reported sales culture directly: "From day one you are taught to find the money in the ticket. If someone is calling in about a broken spring, tell them that other one is going to go pretty soon and they better replace both."
The pattern across complaints is consistent: a tiny advertised "service fee," then a far larger bill at the door, heavy upsells, and warranties that evaporate — with seniors repeatedly among those targeted.
Why we publish this
Our own business name and Fremont address were copied onto a look-alike website that swapped in a different phone number. We are documenting the public record so neighbors can recognize the pattern. The real Austin's Affordable Garage Doors — owner Austin Little, (510) 694-9699 — is not affiliated with any of the companies above.
Talk to the Real Austin's Affordable Garage Doors
Locally owned by Austin Little in Fremont, CA. Our only number is (510) 694-9699. Senior & military discounts.
Call (510) 694-9699