Severe weather brings out the crooks

press release

In the wake of the damaging storms that recently hit Northeast Ohio, Attorney General Dave Yost is reminding all Ohioans to be wary of home repair scams and fake charities soliciting donations on behalf of those affected by severe weather.

“Bad actors thrive on other people’s bad luck,” Yost said. “Protect yourself from scammers – check before you trust.”

Unscrupulous contractors have been known to travel to storm-affected communities to offer their “services” to homeowners, but then do shoddy work—or no work at all. They usually go door to door claiming they can complete the job immediately.

The Attorney General’s Office advises consumers on how to best protect themselves after a natural disaster and encourages them to take these steps to avoid home repair scams:

Research the business. Request identification from the company representative; write down the person’s name, address and phone number; and be wary of any contractor who will not provide this information. Check the company’s reputation with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Better Business Bureau and ask for references. You can also search for possible previous lawsuits filed by the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.

Get multiple written estimates. Getting at least three written estimates from three different contractors can help you weed out the bad apples.

Don’t make large upfront payments. Instead, pay in increments – for example, one-third at the start of the job, one-third after half of the job is satisfactorily completed, and the last third when the job is complete.

Get all promises in writing. Insist on a written contract detailing costs, work to be done, start and end dates, and any verbal promises made by the contractor. The contract should also state whether subcontractors will be used and whether the contractor has or will obtain the necessary licenses and permits. Insist on being provided with a copy of every document you sign or initial.

Understand your cancellation rights. If the contract resulted from a door-to-door sale, you generally have three days to cancel the contract under the Ohio Home Solicitation Sales Act. The seller should notify you in writing of these rights.

Consider paying with a credit card. Paying by credit card, as opposed to paying by cash or check, generally gives you more protection to dispute unauthorized charges.

When it comes to making charitable donations, donors should research charities and ask questions. Donors should follow these steps to ensure gifts are used as intended:

Visit the Attorney General’s Research Charities webpage to see if charities have met registration requirements, connect with watchdog charities and find out what others are saying about the group. News articles and other posts can also provide useful details about groups, board members and key employees.

Support familiar, established organizations with a solid track record of success and experience in natural disaster management. Tragedies can sometimes lead to the creation of new charities that may or may not have the expertise to provide meaningful help or run a charity effectively.

Talk to friends and family about unknown requests. Have they heard of the group? Do they know anyone who has been helped by her?

Ohioans who suspect unfair sales practices or misuse of charitable resources should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioProtects.org, Charitable.OhioAGO.gov or 800-282-0515.