COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohioans are being warned to watch out for home-repair scammers and fake charities in the wake of damaging storms that recently hit portions of the state.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost says the fake charities solicit donations on behalf of those affected by severe weather. The contractors involved in the home-repair scams often travel to storm-damaged areas to offer their “services” to homeowners, but then perform poor work or no work at all.
“Bad actors thrive on others bad fortune,” Yost said. “Protect yourself from scammers – verify before you trust.”
Here are some ways Yost’s office says you can protect yourself from these scams:
- Research the business. Ask for identification from the company representative; note the person’s name, address and phone number; and be cautious of any contractor who won’t provide this information. The company can be researched through the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Better Business Bureau and ask for references. Consumers can also search for possible previous lawsuits filed by the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section.
- Get multiple written estimates. Obtaining at least three written estimates from three distinct contractors could help you decide what is too good to be true.
- Don’t make large payments in advance. Instead, pay in increments – for example, a third at the beginning of the job, a third after half of the work is completed to your satisfaction and the final third when the job is completed.
- Get all promises in writing. Insist on a written contract detailing the costs, the work to be done, the starting and end dates and any verbal promises made by the contractor. The contract should also note whether subcontractors will be used and whether the contractor has or will obtain the necessary licenses and permits. Insist on being provided a copy of every document you sign or initial.
- Understand your cancellation rights. If the contract resulted from a door-to-door sale, you generally have three days to cancel the contract, according to Ohio’s Home Solicitation Sales Act. The seller should give you written notice of these rights.
- Consider paying with a credit card. Paying with a credit card, as opposed to paying in cash or by check, generally gives you greater protection to dispute unauthorized charges.
If someone approaches you collecting money for a charity, there are a few ways to learn whether they are trustworthy.
- Find the charity on the Attorney General’s Research Charities webpage to see if they’ve complied with registration requirements.
- Support familiar, established organizations with a strong track record of success and experience.
- Talk with friends and family about unfamiliar charities to see if they’ve heard of the group.
