Chief’s Column: How to spot fraudulent or incompetent contractors

QUESTION: My home was damaged during a recent storm. I’ve been in touch with the insurance company and now I have to find a contractor to do the repairs. Do you have any advice to homeowners to help avoid being taken in by fraudulent contractors?

ANSWER: When hiring a contractor, the best advice we can offer is to do your homework and be sure to shop smart. While the law provides protection from fraudulent or incompetent contractors, it doesn’t guarantee honest transactions or perfect performance. Protect your investment by being an informed, cautious consumer. The Grafton Police Department would like to offer the following tips from Attorney General Maura Healey’s Consumer Guide to Scams. More information may be found at www.mass.gov.ago.

Home improvement scams typically occur when an individual or individuals posing as home or yard company personnel solicit business from consumers, either through phone, email, or door-to-door. They may claim they were working in the area and have extra material. Often, the scammers will offer services at an unreasonably low price—but the homeowner has to decide on the spot.

Spot the Scam

• Is there proof the business exists? Is the vehicle unmarked? Does the individual have a website or a business card? Are they registered with the Better Business Bureau? A reputable and legitimate contractor should not be hard to track down.
• Did a severe weather event just come through your town or neighborhood? Scammers will use severe weather events, such as tornadoes, as an opportunity to take advantage of already vulnerable homeowners.
• Will the contractor only accept cash for the job and needs it upfront? You should only pay cash upfront if you are using a registered home improvement contractor and you have a contract. Even then, do not pay more than 1/3 the total cost upfront.

Stop the Scam

• Ask for identification, literature about the company, and a copy of their standard contract. Make sure they are registered with the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.
• Ask where they are headquartered? Are they a local business? Check at least three references.
• Check if the company has valid registrations, licenses, or insurance policies.
• Check out the company with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Office of the Attorney General. The BBB can tell you if the business is a member, and both agencies can tell you if the company has any complaints lodged against it.
• Ask if the company provides a warranty for its work, and if so, for how long the work is under warranty.

Normand A. Crepeau, Jr.

Chief of Police