Jim Winsett of the BBB. Q. My family home was damaged in this week's wind and rain storm. I need repair help immediately, but want to hire qualified contractors. What advice may BBB provide?
A. Many of our residents have this problem. During the past weeks, the damage done by high winds and rain storms in Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia counties brings out the best in people, as neighbors and strangers reach out to help others in need. Unfortunately, the aftermath of a storm crisis also brings out contractors who take advantage of those who have already been victimized.
In turn, your Better Business Bureau is warning local residents affected by recent storms to beware of storm chasers and out-of-town contractors soliciting business for quick repair.
BBB finds it is not uncommon for out-of-town storm chasers and individuals to solicit business after storms like the ones we had in past weeks. Storm chasers may not have proper licenses and certifications for this area and may offer quick fixes or make big promises to which they will not deliver.
Your BBB offers the following tips for storm victims:
- Know your rights and responsibilities. Immediately contact your homeowner insurance company and clearly understand what the policy covers and the deductible.
- Look up information and contact your state's Department of Consumer Affairs: in Tennessee, http://tn.gov/consumer/index.shtml and in Georgia, http://consumer. georgia.gov/.
- Contractors must be registered with the Secretary of State in Georgia, call (478) 207-2440 for the Professional Licensing Boards Division. In Tennessee, the Department of Commerce & Insurance, call (615) 741-2241. You may also go online to http://www.sos.ga.gov/ or http://www.tn.gov/commerce/ and check if a contractor is registered.
- Counties may require a solicitation permit if sales people go door-to-door. Verify if they are required to have a permit by contacting your local city and county office. BBB suggests consumers be pro-active in selecting a contractor and not re-active to sales calls on the phone or door-to-door pitches.
- While most roofing contractors abide by the law, be careful allowing someone you do not know to inspect your roof. An unethical contractor may actually create damage to get work.
- Try to get at least 2-3 quotes from contractors, and insist that payments be made to the company, not an individual. Go to www.chattanooga.bbb.org website and click on "Request a Quote" and enter the required information. You select the BBB Accredited Business for an estimate quote.
- Never pay in advance for repairs, and do not pay cash! While many companies may ask for a deposit, BBB suggests that no more than one-third of the job be paid up front. This helps the contractor with the purchase of required materials. Be sure the contract specifies the schedule based on work completion for releasing payments to the contractor.
- Resist high-pressure sales tactics such as the "good deal" you will get only if you hire the contractor on the spot.
- Get a written contract that specifies the price, product warranty, the work to be done, the amount of liability insurance coverage maintained by the contractor, and a time frame. Require a copy of their current certificate of insurance.
- Pay by credit card, if possible; you may have additional protection if there is a problem.
- Check that the contractor's vehicle has signs or markings on it with the business name, phone number and your local county license plates.
- BBB also warns area contractors to beware of storm chasers who are willing to pay local construction companies substantial amounts of money to use a local company's established name, reputation and phone number so they can masquerade as a local business.
We have seen this happen in other areas of the country. After doing repairs paid by insurance companies the out-of-state contractors left the area. Many contractors who agreed to let those storm chasers use their name regret their decision once they were left holding the bag of unsatisfied customers due to incomplete or poor workmanship and/or unfulfilled warranties.
Storm and disaster victims should never feel forced to make a hasty decision or to choose an unknown contractor. For reliable information, lists of BBB Accredited Businesses by industry and business reviews you can trust on local companies, visit www.chattanooga.bbb.org or call 423-266-6144.
Jim Winsett is president of the Better Business Bureau in Chattanooga.