PEORIA (Heart of Illinois ABC) – The Better Business Bureau wants folks in central Illinois to be aware of the threat of potential scams. Recent hail damage in our area can cause out of town contractors or “storm chasers” to try and solicit business from local homeowners.
The BBB suggests you contact your insurance company, and ask about your policy coverage. If a contractor is needed, your insurance company can recommend reputable businesses. Also, if a business or deal seems too good to be true, you can check out the business on BBB.org.
It’s also a good idea to be weary of door-to-door contractors. Many of them may offer something that may seem like a good deal, but not resisting a good deal could end up costing you in the long run. Disaster victims should never feel forced to make a hasty decision or to choose an unknown contractor.
Don’t sign over insurance checks to contractors. Get an invoice from the contractor and pay them directly (preferably with a credit card, which offers additional fraud protection over other forms of payment). Don’t sign any documents that give the contractor any rights to your insurance claims. If you have questions, contact your insurance company or agent.
BBB is also warning contractors to beware of storm chasers who offer to pay local construction companies substantial amounts of money to use the business’s established name, reputation, and phone. They masquerade as a local business, collect the insurance money and then move on, leaving the real business to deal with unsatisfied customers due to bad workmanship, unfinished work, or unfulfilled warranties.
If a deal seems too good to be true, or a suspicious business knocks on your door, you can report potentially fraudulent activity at BBB.org/ScamTracker
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