CLEVELAND — After wind gusts over the weekend created significant damage and left thousands without power, the Cleveland Better Business Bureau is warning area homeowners of potential scams.
According to the BBB, such storms and the ensuing property damage can result in "storm chasers" and out-of-town contractors soliciting business. The BBB notes that while "not all storm chasers are scammers, they may lack proper licensing and insurance, offer quick but inappropriate fixes, or make promises they can’t deliver on."
The BBB is also offering the following tips for helping residents avoid scams:
- Remember the Basics - BBB recommends homeowners obtain three estimates for repairs, get everything in writing, and pay with a credit card when possible. Find businesses you can trust on BBB.org.
- Be Careful of Door-to-Door Contractors and Utility Workers - Ask for identification from any individual going door-to-door. Check the worker’s company vehicle for a business name and contact information. Write down their license plate number. If you are contacted by a contractor going door-to-door, verify with your city that they have a solicitor’s permit.
- Contact Your Insurance Company - If your home or car suffered severe weather damage, ask your insurance company about policy coverage and specific filing requirements. Save all receipts for food, temporary lodging, or other expenses that may be covered under your policy. Your insurance company may also have recommended contractors.
- Resist high-pressure sales - Some storm chasers use tactics such as the “good deal” you’ll only get if you hire the contractor on the spot. Sometimes unscrupulous contractors will also offer a deal on repairs citing they have “leftover material” from another job site. Disaster victims should never feel forced to make a hasty decision.
- Don’t sign over insurance checks to contractors - Obtain an invoice from the contractor and pay them directly. Don’t sign any documents that give the contractor any rights to your insurance claims. If you have questions, contact your insurance company or agent.
- Don’t Panic about a Utility Call - Your utility company may make courtesy calls to remind you about an outstanding balance, but they will never call or email you to demand immediate payment under threats of a same-day shutoff or direct you to buy gift cards to pay your bill. If you suspect a scam or receive one of these phone calls, hang up and call your energy company directly.
- Be wary regarding places you can’t see. While most contractors abide by the law, be careful allowing someone you do not know to inspect your roof and other areas of your house. An unethical contractor may actually create damage to get work. The same goes for attics, crawl spaces, ducts, and other places you cannot easily access or see for yourself.
More resources via the BBB are available here.
Additionally, anybody who believes that they have encountered or lost money to a scam can report it to the BBB's scam tracker.