By Hannah W. Wever

Published: May 1, 2008

To the editor,
Spring is here, so be careful of con artists who prey on homeowners, especially senior citizens. These con artists show up at your door offering services from tree trimming to roof repair. Some may offer to pave your driveway with leftover materials from a previous job, mow your lawn or remodel your home for a very low price. Oftentimes, these fly-by-night operators may drive vehicles with out-of-state license plates, or set up temporary offices which can be vacated at a moment’s notice.
The Better Business Bureau suggests that you do the following:
Obtain the name and address of the company that person supposedly represents and ask for references for you to contact.
Get all details of offer in writing and carefully review it. Make sure you understand the contract and all verbal agreements are included in contract.
Make sure you are provided with the proper “notice of cancellation” form as required by the FTC for contracts signed in the home.
Verify the contractor is properly licensed, bonded and insured.
Determine how long the company has been in business and call the Better Business Bureau at 1-804-648-0016 or http://www.bbb.org to determine a firm’s experience record.
After checking the references and the company’s reputation, if you decide to hire the company, make the check payable to the company, not the individual. Do not pay in cash.
Remember, any legitimate company that wants your business will be more than willing to allow you time to “check them out.” Don’t fall prey to high-pressure tactics such as “this is the only chance you have” or “by tomorrow the extra materials will be gone.” If you have an expensive repair, be especially cautious. Obtain bids from several companies. Don’t always go for the lowest bid – in many cases, you will get exactly what you pay for.
Elaine Anderson
Orange County TRIAD Coordinator