JACKSONVILLE – Damage caused by Hurricane Matthew has been devastating and overwhelming for many people in our area. This can bring out the best in people, as strangers reach out to help others in need. Unfortunately, the aftermath of a crisis also attracts scammers who take advantage of people who are desperate.
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Many people are left paying out hurricane deductibles and paying workers to removing fallen trees from their property. Tom Stephens from the Better Business Bureau says sometimes the best deal when it comes to your wallet, is not the best deal in the long run.
"You should be careful of people going door-to-door, offering their services at a super deal," said Stephens. "Often times those good deals turn out to be the worst possible deals because they don't finish the job."
When people can't get up on their own roof, often times they're willing to let anyone do the job. But you need to make sure that what workers say they see on your property, is true.
"You should be very careful about who you let crawl on your roof," Stephens said. "Make sure it's a licensed roofing contractor with a good reputation. Those people, you can pretty much trust."
The door-to-door roofing contractor who is going house-to-house and who is trying to get you to be reactive instead of proactive, is the guy you want to stay away from," said Stephens.
There are easy ways to check if someone is licensed. In Florida, you can visit SunBiz.org. People in Georgia can check at SOS.ga.gov.
"Tree trimmers probably have a 1-week waiting period before they come look at the job, because there are so many trees down," said Stephens. "But if you use an unlicensed contractor, you open yourself up for all types of problems."
If an unlicensed contractor gets injured on your property and doesn't have worker's compensation, the homeowner would be responsible.
If possible, the BBB recommends getting 3-4 quotes before hiring someone for the job. Also, don't pay the worker in advance. And when you do pay for the job, pay the company and not the individual.
"If you pay with a credit card, you've got some protection," said Stephens. "You could dispute the charges if something goes wrong."
Before you hire anyone, check with the Better Business Bureau at BBB.org/north-east-florida.