Jun. 27—A tornado measuring a half-mile wide caused severe damage and left more than 160,000 homes without power in East Texas and Louisiana. East Texans are no strangers to storm damage, but that does make us targets for fly by night contractors looking to take advantage of storm victims. Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises residents to be on the lookout for storm chasers who show up unannounced, offer to repair storm damage for a low price, require advance payment and make big promises on which they have no intention of delivering. BBB reminds consumers to be on the lookout for shady contractors looking to take advantage of storm victims.
"Encountering high winds, thunderstorms and the occasional tornado are a part of living in East Texas," said Mechele Agbayani Mills, President & CEO of BBB Serving Central East Texas. "That means it is important to be cognizant of fly-by-night repair businesses who are ready to pounce on storm victims as soon as the weather breaks."
BBB offers the following advice to homeowners before hiring a contractor:
Check with your insurance company about policy coverage and specific filing requirements. Save all receipts if temporary repairs are necessary.
Although you may be anxious to get things back to normal, avoid letting your emotions get the better of you. Don't be pressured into making an immediate decision with a long-term impact. Be proactive in selecting a business and not re-active to sales solicitations.
Take time to shop around and get at least three estimates based on the same specifications and materials. Check out references that are at least one year-old and verify licensing with local agencies.
Be wary of door-to-door workers who claim to have left-over materials from a job "down the street" or who do not have a permanent place of business. If sales people go door-to-door, check to see if your community requires them to have solicitation permits.
Require a written contract agreement with anyone you hire. Be sure their name, address, license number, if applicable, and phone number is included in the contract. Read and understand the contract in its entirety, and never sign a blank contract. A copy of the signed contract is to be given to you at the time of signature.
If one estimate seems much lower than the others and it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Many fly-by-night contractors' below-cost bids seem attractive, but these contracts often are uninsured and perform substantial cancellation fees or liquidation damages are required if the homeowner decides not to use the contractor after insurance approval of the claim.