Be watchful for scams to repair storm damage
BY JOHN KREROWICZ
jkrerowicz@kenoshanews.com
Home repair scammers routinely show up after heavy storms and floods, state officials warned.
Thursday night’s thunderstorms across southern Wisconsin damaged some homes in Kenosha, and owners should be careful if contractors come knocking and offer quick fixes, said Brock Bergey, with the Wisconsin Division of Trade and Consumer Protection.
Bergey said most are from out of state and use high-pressure sales tactics to convince desperate homeowners to give them money upfront. They often promise fast repairs, do minimal work then don’t return, he said.
“People want a quick remedy, but not only do they fall victim to Mother Nature but also to the scammers,” Bergey said.
Rural areas and small communities with few home improvement contractors and less law enforcement often are targets, he said.
The division offered these tips to guard against fraud:
n Check for complaints against the contractor by calling the division’s hotline at 1-800-422-7128 or visiting the Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin’s website at www.wisconsin.bbb.org.n Ask to see the contractor’s registration card from the state Department of Commerce. Registration does not guarantee quality work but indicates some company stability.n Try to hire someone local but be cautious if they subcontract the job. n Get a written contract with start and ending dates, warranty details, work to be done and materials used. Get a copy of the contractor’s certificate of liability insurance.n Obtain lien waivers when any money is paid. The law says contractors must offer the waiver if they accept money. If the contractor doesn’t pay suppliers or workers, a lien could be put on the property.n Ask the local building inspectors to occasionally stop by and observe.Bergey said Wisconsin allows property owners to cancel an agreement within three days if they didn’t solicit the business. Contractors are supposed to give notices about that.
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