CLEVELAND — Need some work done at your house?
If you're looking to hire a contractor, the Better Business Bureau wants to make sure you're protected with a warning about one red flag you should watch for before making a decision
Their advice? Watch for pressure from the contractor.
“You should really be allowed to have time -- and especially if you’re in your home there is a three-day right to rescind," explains Ericka Dilworth with the BBB. "You should have time to make a decision, to do your homework, to ask questions, to feel comfortable with your decision. If a contractor is pressuring you to make a decision right now, you might want to make a different choice."
Dilworth's advice comes amid National Consumer Protection Week, which runs through March 9.
SCAMS & IDENTITY THEFT CONCERNS
Jon Miller Steiger with the FTC East Central Region says the number one scam for 2023 was identity fraud -- and it wasn't just the elderly who were targeted.
“More people in their 20s have been reporting losing money than people in their 70s," explains Steiger. "But what happens is that people in their 70s tend to have more money and the types of scams that target them, so when they do lose money they’re losing a lot of money -- sometimes their life savings. So really, there are scams for each one of us depending on the day, depending on our age."
If you fall victim to identity theft or a scam, report it to law enforcement at the FTC. It’s also important to have your bank accounts frozen.