JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Better Business Bureau warns that the aftermath of a hurricane can bring out contractors who take advantage of those who have already been victimized by the storm.
It is not uncommon for out-of-town storm chasers to solicit business after a major weather event, the BBB says. Storm chasers may not have proper licensing for your area and may offer quick fixes or make big promises on which they won't deliver.
During hurricane season, the BBB warns Florida residents to beware of storm chasers and out-of-town contractors soliciting business.
The BBB offers the following tips for storm victims:
- Many municipalities require a solicitation permit if salespeople go do-to-door. Verify that they have to have a permit by contacting your local Township or Municipality.
- Be proactive in selecting a contractor and not reactive to sales calls on the phone or door-to-door pitches.
- While most roofing contractors are honest and will do good work, be careful allowing someone you do not know to inspect your roof. Unethical contractors may actually create damage to get work. Try to get at least three to four quotes from contractors, and insist payments be made to the company, not an individual.
- Do not pay for the work in advance. Be wary of any contractor who insists on full or half payment upfront.
- More importantly, be wary of a contractor trying to push you to sign a contract that makes them the exclusive contractor to do the repair job. This restricts the consumer from shopping around for the best bid to repair the damage. Read all of the fine print in the contract and understand all terms and conditions within the contract.
- Resist high-pressure sales tactics such as the "good deal" you'll get only if you hire the contractor on the spot. Or if they've offered to work for your neighbor, friend or family at a deep discount. These are often red flags something is amiss.
- Get a written contract that specifies the price, the work to be done, the amount of liability insurance coverage maintained by the contractor, and a time frame. Require a copy of their current certificate of insurance. Pay by credit card, if possible; you may have additional protection if there's a problem.
- Check that the contractor's vehicle has signs or markings on it with the business name, phone number and the appropriate state license plates. Then take the information and check it out using BBB's Accredited Business Directory.
The BBB also warns area contractors to beware of storm chasers who are willing to pay local construction companies substantial amounts of money to use a local business's established name, reputation and phone so they can masquerade as a local business. Many contractors who agreed to let these storm chasers use their name regretted their decision once they were left holding the bag of unsatisfied customers due to bad workmanship and/or unfulfilled warranties.
Unlicensed Awareness Week is June 15 – 19. As part of an effort to educate all Floridians on the importance of hiring a licensed professional, BBB and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation are reminding Floridians to thoroughly research professionals and businesses prior to hiring and to report suspected unlicensed individuals.
Unlicensed activity is against the law. The BBB and DBPR take unlicensed activity very seriously because it threatens the safety of Florida's consumers as well as taking away business from licensed professionals throughout the state.
For more information on how to find properly licensed professionals, including an easy to use checklist, visit www.bbb.org/west-florida/licensing.