CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — With many West Virginians impacted by severe storms Monday night and Tuesday, some may be facing unexpected repair bills.
As such, the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office warned consumers Wednesday to be cautious when hiring contractors to make those repairs, because, after severe weather events, scam artists are known to canvas neighborhoods and offer to repair damaged property for deals that seem too good to be true—because they are.
Attorney General Patrick Morrisey offered the following tips to avoid being scammed:
- Evaluate the size and scope of the project.
- Get written estimates from multiple companies.
- Research companies that repair storm damage.
- Ask for references to verify the contractor’s prior work.
- Look for reviews of the company on trusted websites.
- Check to see if the contractor has a valid license by contacting the West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board at 304-558-7890.
The West Virginia Division of Labor also has an online portal where consumers can check a Contractor Licensing Number themselves. Just be sure to ask for the licensing number, the contractor’s company name, what name they are doing business as and the city and county their business is located in.
The Better Business Bureau backs up those suggestions, and also has some of its own for…
