Archive for the ‘Scams’ Category
Thieves Pose As Roofers To Enter Home
As the times change, so do they methods criminals use to take advantage of unsuspecting residents. A home in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania was victimized by two men posing as roofing contractors.
Up To No Good
Having just had a roofing work done, the homeowners were unaware that they men they let in to “inspect” the work were actually criminals. The men rang the doorbell around 7:50pm last Friday night to inform the homeowners the completed roof repair was to be inspected to ensure proper completion. Once inside the men stole nearly $86,000 worth of jewelry, statues and valuable figurines.
There is no word on whether these criminals have been apprehended or why the homeowners had no suspicion of the men. Despite having never seen the men previously as part of the roofing contractor or crew, the homeowners failed to suspect foul play and allowed the men inside. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon as roofing scams have become more prevalent with each passing season. Police report that it is likely the men saw roof contractor signs in the yard the days prior and used that as their cover to gain access to the home.
BBB Advice on Roofers
Every year the Better Business Bureau receives thousands of complaints about roofers from unsatisfied and frustrated customers. Roofing Contractors are the most researched by homeowners at the BBB, more than 2 million times a year.
Dishonest companies, storm chasers and door to door salesmen can cost homeowners more than the price of repairs by shoddy work or not doing the job at all.
Scams
A common scam is for well-dressed salesman to come to your door, they have a work truck and a few tools and tell the homeowner that they were in the neighborhood working on another roof and they could see from the road that the homeowner’s roof is severely damaged. They tell you that the insurance companies will more than likely cover the cost. The workers go up on the roof; sometimes doing damage themselves so they can charge the homeowner to repair it. The homeowner then signs a contract saying they will hire the company to do the job. Once the check is cashed, the work is not done properly or not done at all.
BBB Tips and Advice
The Better Business Bureau recommends that when homeowners are looking for a roofing contractor or roofer to do repairs or replace your roof that you start your search with either bbb.org online or call your local BBB office and check the Accredited Business Locator.
• Never pay the full cost upfront. Avoid contractors that ask you to obtain the required permits or use high pressure sales and make offers too good to be true.
• Verify that the business meets all state and local requirements including being licensed, insured and bonded.
• Ask for references.
• Ask if they will be subcontracting out the job and for those references and licensing information also.
• Get at least 3 bids. Be careful as very low bids might be a warning of poor workmanship or added-on hidden fees.
• Extremely important to get everything in writing, even verbal agreements. Scrutinize the payment terms, cost of labor and materials. Get warranties or guarantees in writing.
Being prepared is your best defense. You can also contact your homeowner’s insurance company for a list of approved roofing contractors. Be careful you don’t end up paying for the cost of the repairs yourself because you were scammed by an unapproved roofing contractor and your insurance company won’t pay for repairs again.
New Roofing Scam Revealed
Having work done on your roof is a major undertaking for most people. There are thousands of dollars involved, making it appealing for scammers to take advantage of homeowners. Being informed of their methods is a powerful tool to avoid being scammed.
Shippensburg PA
New scam alert for people that just had their roofs replaced in Shippensburg PA. On Wednesday, October 26, 2011, 3 young-looking white people attempted to scam a Shippensburg Borough resident out of $1,700.
The 3 suspects told the homeowner that they were roofers and they worked for the company that had recently replaced their roof. They told the homeowner that they needed to inspect the work that was done. Since they sounded knowledgeable and the homeowner recognized the name of the roofing company, they let them check it out.
Police Report
“After checking the roof, they said there were some problems that needed to be fixed,” Shippensburg Police Chief Fred A. Scott wrote in his report. “The owner told them to fix the problems. They messed around on the roof for a while and then told the homeowner they needed over $1,700 for the repairs.”
The homeowners gave the 3 people the check but the bank refused to cash it because of how the check was written. When the bank called the homeowners about the check, the homeowners asked the bank not to cash it. In the meantime, the homeowners had called the roofing company who had no knowledge of these 3 people.
When the 3 suspects returned to the homeowners to get another check, the genuine roofing company was there and when the suspects saw them, they left the area.
General Description of the Suspects
The 3 suspects, described as being very young, were driving a late 1980’s or early 1990’s black Ford truck. They were carrying a tool box and ladder in the back. If you have any information about this incident, please call the Shippensburg Police Department at 717-532-7361.
Homeowner Learns Hard Lesson About Roofing
A homeowner calls multiple companies to evaluate her roof and provide a quote for potential services. She receives a visit from several high quality roof contractors, each providing a bid on the job. One company provides her with a document titled “Job Proposal” and asked her to sign the document to “verify receipt of the document”. To the woman’s surprise, the document wasn’t a proposal but a contract, and is now being sued for hiring another roofer to complete the job.
Sounds like the plot from a fiction story, right? Unfortunately, for one Texas woman, this is exactly what happened to her when she tried to shop around for multiple quotes.
Falling Through The Cracks
For every ten reputable and professional roofing companies, there is one unscrupulous company out looking to make easy money. Like the Texas woman, many people fall victim to these scams when they try and do what they thought was the smart thing: shop around for the best quote. In some cases, what seems like the best deal, really isn’t. In the case of the Texas woman, what seemed like a harmless document turned out to be a contractually binding agreement that now has her tied up in court.
This woman is experiencing the effects of roof repair scams that have swept many unsuspecting victims around the company, but your story doesn’t have to be the same. There are a few things you can do to arm yourself against non-reputable companies when searching for the right roofer:
- Have another person present with you at the time of the evaluation and quote.This will give the appearance of having a representative on your side and make you less vulnerable to potential scammers.
- Walk around with the roof contractor and ask questions about the roof repair or replacement job. Find out the details of the work and the workers that will be present on your property.
- Ask for documentation of the company’s license and insurance agreements. Contact the better business bureau to make sure the company is legitimate and does not have any complaints filed against them.
- Always check up on the contractor by obtaining copies of the paperwork but never sign anything unless you are ready to begin work. Even if the paperwork doesn’t specify a “contract”, a signature can make it legally binding if you aren’t careful.
Roofing Contract Scams
Recently the Texas Attorney General ordered a Texas roofing company to refund customers money they were scammed out of. The Houston based Holden Roofing Inc. will be giving refunds to homeowners who signed contracts they were told was a free inspection of their roof, when they were actually signing contracts to do the repairs. If the homeowners went with another roofing company, Holden Roofing would demand the homeowner pay a penalty of 15% of the total roof replacement costs.
Read Your Contract Carefully
Unfortunately, these are not isolated cases. It just reminds us to read our contracts, and be careful what we sign. If you do realize you made a hasty decision, the Texas Home Solicitation Act gives homeowners the right to cancel contracts within 3 days of signing.
Check Them Out
Sometimes it’s tricky to spot a scammer. Holden Roofing targeted homeowners in storm prone areas. If someone comes to your home and offers a free roof consultation, ask them for their home office phone number and contact the Better Business Bureau in your area to check them out before you sign anything or let them on your roof. Sometimes your homeowner’s insurance agent will also have a list of reputable and not so reputable roofers and contractors in your area.
Arkansas Passes Law To Protect Homeowners From Repair Scams
Having your home repaired or remodeled can be a stressful process. Whether your home is in need of roof repair or interior remodeling, choosing the right contractor can be overwhelming. Homeowners trust their contractor will do a honest job and perform the work as intended. Unfortunately, many homeowners have fallen victim to non-reputable contractors and were left with poor work that only cost them more money in the end.
Laying Down The Law
While there are many professional and legitimate contractors in operation, there are many more unscrupulous companies lurking around the corner. For homeowners, deciphering which contractor is best for the job can be difficult. In an effort to protect Arkansas homeowners, the state has passed a new law to assist homeowners in the home repair process.
As of January 1, 2012, the state of Arkansas will require any construction or remodeling over $2,000 to be completed by a state licensed contractor. In the past, the limit was $20,000, which left ample room for unlicensed contractors to take on projects they may not have been qualified for. The law will also prevent contractors from completing jobs in stages or under separate contracts of work for a single job to get around the license requirement.
The state is offering an opportunity for unlicensed contractors to obtain the necessary credentials based on their amount of experience, level of ability and performance reviews completed by previous customers. The state’s Residential Building Contractors Committee is charged with the responsibility of administering new licenses, reviewing existing licenses and implementing penalties for violations of the new law. The committee hopes that by offering unlicensed contractors an opportunity to obtain their credentials through a monitored avenue, all scammers and non-reputable repair contractors will be weeded out in the process.
Hurricane Irene Damage May Lead To More Roof Scams
Many Americans spent the weekend trying to evacuate their homes and protect their belongings, only to return to find the destruction Irene left in its path. Many homeowners were flooded out of their homes and had significant roof damage.
Unfortunately, some homeowners may not have had roof insurance, leaving them with the repair bill. As people plan to rebuild their lives and repair their homes, some fraudulent repair companies will be prowling for victims of their next roof scam.
Aiding The Victims
Hurricane Irene left an estimated $13 billion in damage in its wake. With an already strapped federal budget, many are worried relief efforts will be reminiscent of Katrina; where homeowners waited years to receive relief funds. Homeowner’s insurance companies along the East Coast are bracing for an influx of claims and will be working overtime to ensure any money that is paid goes towards legitimate repairs.
Although there are plenty of legitimate roof repair companies that may advertise in a neighborhood after a storm, not all companies are the same. There are a few ways to spot non-reputable companies and ensure you get the best roof repair:
- Beware of initial contacts via door-to-door salespersons
- Always ask for a copy of the roof contractor’s license and registration with the county.
- Ignore doorknob hangers suggesting you may have roof damage
- Instead obtain several quotes from multiple companies.
- Be wary of a promise to cover the cost of an insurance policy deductible
- This is a sign of fraudulent bidding on repair costs.
- Be wary of an offer to help file your insurance claim
- You should be directly managing the claim with your insurance.
It is also important to remember that if you do sign a contract with a home repair company, by law you have three days to opt out of it.
Seniors Targeted For Roofing Scams
Identity theft is the most prevalent white collar crime in America, but recent trends have begun to lean more towards scams. Sadly, the main target for such criminals is senior citizens. As the baby boomers begin to age, more senior citizens become the victim of many types of scams.
These days, criminals are evolving with the times. As more new alerts are educating seniors about ways to look out for traditional scams, criminals are changing their tactics.
Who Is At The Door?
It isn’t uncommon to have perfectly legitimate contractors leave flyers on the door advertising their services, some many even knock on the door to speak with a homeowner personally. It can be very difficult for some to determine who is legitimate and who is running a scam. Senior citizens are often easy targets for door-to-door “salesmen” as they tend to be more trusting and may not have anyone around to help them make choices.
Roofing scams have become increasingly popular, especially in established neighborhoods. Fraudulent contractors will knock on door, warning seniors about the damaged state of the roofs. With little ability to check the quality of their roof themselves, many seniors begin to trust what the contractor recommends. These scammers will arrange for an inspection to be completed to “verify” the existence of damage to the roof. Senior homeowners are lead to believe they can save money by replacing the roof with the contractor that caught the damage “just in time”.
The biggest problem: these fraudulent companies do not follow legal protocol. Many of these roof contractors fail to apply for, and obtain, the necessary permits for new roof construction. They rarely document their work or file the claim with the insurance company. The homeowner is left to foot the entire bill, usually without any record of the completed work. Without documentation of the work, these seniors are left without any warrant on the product or way to prove payment.
Protect Yourself
To prevent becoming a victim of roofing scams, follow these simple tips:
- Ask for references and credentials of any door-to-door vendor.
- Verify the contractor is licensed or registered with the county.
- Get inspections and quotes from multiple contractors.
- Always get documentation of the completed work, warranty of the product and a copy of payment to be filed to the insurance company.
Travelers Scams – Roofing Nightmare
An increasing trend seems to be a group of well dressed, polite, salesmen who pull up to your home in nice clean vehicles and make empty promises to fix your roof, driveway or other home repairs. Law enforcement refers to these scam artists as “travelers”.
The travelers often deceive homeowners into making unnecessary repairs. They make claims of doing your repairs quickly and cheap, offering amazing deals that are often hard to pass up. Problems soon arise when the homeowner realizes the quality of the job is severely substandard and they have no way to contact the contractors for any resolution.
Consumers can protect themselves in a variety of ways, first of all be wary of anyone coming to you and asking to make repairs, also remember the old adage, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”. Get the name of the contractor, their address and phone number, ask for licenses and references. Check with the Better Business Bureau in your area to see if there have been any complaints filed on this company. Also, check online or in the yellow pages to verify if this is a real business. There are plenty of legitimate companies out there willing to give you an estimate and complete the work in an ethical and professional manner.
Source: Consumer Affairs
