NORTHEAST OHIO (WOIO) – Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost warned Ohioans in a press release Friday about home repair scammers and fake charities soliciting donations.
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Yost warns citizens to be wary of door-to-door salesmen who offer their services to homeowners and do poor work or no work at all.
“Bad actors profit from the misfortune of others,” Yost said in a press release. “Protect yourself from scammers – verify before you trust.”
Yost provided consumers with a list of best practices to protect themselves from home improvement scams in the press release below:
Research the business
- Ask the company representative for identification and be sure to write down the person’s name, address and phone number.
- Be wary of contractors who do not provide information.
- Check the company’s reputation with the Ohio Attorney General’s office and the Better Business Bureau and ask for references. You can also look for possible past lawsuits filed by the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.
Get multiple written estimates
- Obtaining at least three written estimates from three different contractors can help you weed out potential scammers.
Do not make large advance payments
- Pay in installments, such as one-third at the start of the job, one-third when half the work is done to your satisfaction, and the final third when the job is completed.
Get all promises in writing
- Insist on a written contract that details the costs, the work to be performed, the start and finish dates, and any verbal promises made by the contractor.
- The contract should also state whether subcontractors will be used and whether the contractor has or will obtain the necessary licenses and permits.
- Insist on receiving a copy of every document you sign or initial.
Find out about your right of withdrawal
- If the contract was formed through a door-to-door sale, you generally have three days to cancel the contract under Ohio’s Home Solicitation Sales Act.
- The seller should inform you of these rights in writing.
Consider paying with a credit card
- Unlike paying with cash or check, paying with a credit card generally offers you better protection when disputing unauthorized charges.
Research and ask questions about charities
- Visit the Attorney General’s Research Charities webpage to see if charities have met registration requirements, to contact charity watchdogs, and to learn what others are saying about the group.
- News articles and other postings can also provide useful details about groups, board members, and key personnel.
Yost advises consumers to support established organizations with a strong track record, because tragedies can lead to the creation of new charities that may not have the expertise to provide meaningful help.
And as with almost all scams, you should talk to friends or family to see if they have heard of it.
Anyone who suspects unfair sales practices or misuse of charitable funds should contact the Ohio Attorney General’s Office at www.OhioProtects.org, Charitable.OhioAGO.gov or 800-282-0515.
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