WV Attorney General Issues Scam Repair Warning
In a press release dated July 10th, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey urged West Virginians forced to deal with damage from this summer’s severe weather to be cautious when hiring others to assist with repair and cleanup.
The advice comes in light of historic floods that devastated portions of central and southeastern West Virginia, along with confirmed tornados in Kanawha and Lincoln counties as well as wind damage in Harrison and Lewis counties.
Mr. Morrisey said “The despair in parts of our state is palpable. We want to do what we can to ensure that victims won’t be targeted a second time.”
Unlicensed persons often will canvas neighborhoods and offer to repair damaged property with deals that seem too good to be true. At times they will imply they are working on nearby homes or suggest they are with the bank or insurance company.
All too often, the money is paid without completion of the work.
Many times scammers fail to provide contact information, such as a contractor’s license, business card or other identification, and use high-pressure sales tactics to force immediate purchases.
The Attorney General’s Office warns residents to take their time, research options and be very careful before hiring an unfamiliar contractor. Here are a few suggested tips:
- Evaluate the size and scope of their project.
- Obtain written estimates from multiple companies.
- Research companies that do those jobs.
- 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.
Additionally, state law requires contractors to allow the consumer five days to cancel roofing contracts, as opposed to the three-day period for door-to-door sales, without penalty for any portion of repairs not covered by the consumer’s insurance policy. The clock begins with the consumer’s receipt of the insurance notice.
The Attorney General’s Office also remains on guard for sham charities and price gouging violations. Anyone with questions, a potential storm-related home repair scam or other violation should call the Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-368-8808 or file a report online at www.wvago.gov.
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