MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) — We are in the middle of severe weather season. After a big storm passes through, there’s another danger to watch out for, and this one is after your wallet. Scam artists follow storms across the country, and while they promise quality work, it’s more likely they’ll take your money and run.
Homeowners should be on the lookout for “storm chasers” or out-of-town contractors that solicit your business. Lisa Schiller with the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau (BBB) says they are already investigating claims of storm chasers this summer.
“We’ve already had reports over the weekend of door-to-door contractors going through neighborhoods in Oconomowoc,” she said.
The key to stopping a storm repair scam is for a homeowner to take their time. While it’s understandable to want to fix a damaged house immediately, it is also important to do research to protect what is often a family’s biggest lifetime investment.
“You don’t want to make a split decision on your doorstep, take your time” Schiller said, “Ask for references, check those references. Any legitimate contractor will be happy to give you all of their contact information and give you time to not only check their contact information but check their references as well.”
If your home suffers storm…
