CHARLESTON W.Va. (WVDN) — West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey is urging residents dealing with damage following severe storms this week, that brought heavy rain, strong winds and golf ball-sized hail in certain parts of the state, to be cautious when hiring help to make repairs.
“Parts of our state experienced a severe storm that left roofs, windows and siding damaged,” Attorney General McCuskey said. “Unfortunately, this is a time when scammers prey on people’s need to have repairs made quickly. We want to remind consumers to be cautious and research any contractor they consider hiring.”
Scammers will often go door-to-door in neighborhoods and offer to repair damaged property with pricing that is far cheaper than competitors. At times, they will imply they are working on nearby homes or suggest they are with the insurance company or bank.
Too often, consumers pay money for work that is never completed.
Many times, scammers fail to provide contact information such as a contractor’s license, business card or other identification, and they use high-pressure sales tactics to force immediate purchases.
The Attorney General is asking residents to take their time, research options and be very careful before hiring anyone to do work.
Here are a few tips:
- Evaluate the size and scope of the project.
- Get written estimates from multiple companies.
- Look for reviews of the company on trusted websites.
- Research companies that repair storm damage.
- Ask for references to verify the contractor’s prior work.
- 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 consumer must also notify the contractor in writing of the cancelation. The written notice can be via email, letter or return of the company’s notice of cancelation. The clock begins with the consumer’s receipt of the insurance notice.
Anyone with questions or a potential storm-related home repair scam should call the Consumer Protection Division of the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office at 800-368-8808. To file a report online, visit www.ago.wv.gov.
