Dept.
of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Protecting Wisconsin Consumers for 75 years
Contact Glen Loyd (608) 224-5007 Cell: 516 3702
Dept.
of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
Protecting Wisconsin Consumers for 75 years
Contact Glen Loyd (608) 224-5007 Cell: 516 3702
Be wary of storm chasers
“This week’s flood damage is likely to attract questionable contractors," says
Jim Rabbitt, director of the state Bureau of Consumer Protection.
“Sometimes these contractors show up immediately, collect money and then don’t come back to finish work. Or the contractor starts asking for more money than the agreed to price.”
Rabbitt says the second wave of contractors goes door-to-door looking for repair work. In addition to shoddy work, they also start demanding more money.
More sophisticated outside contractors may contact local contractors and offer to be subcontractors, promising a percentage of each contract. This can be bad news for the local contractor and his customers. Complaints to the Bureau of Consumer Protection report that short cuts may be taken, cheaper materials substituted, materials not paid for and jobs not completed.
Contrary to what is commonly believed, home repair contractors are not licensed by the state, and while anyone may claim to be a contractor, they may lack the expertise or use low quality supplies. Or they may be rip-off artists from out of state who charge exorbitant prices.
Consumers should know that when electrical circuit breakers, ground fault circuit interrupters and fuses have been underwater, they must be replaced because silt trapped inside prevent them from performing properly as safety devices. Silt can cause electrical shorting or mechanical malfunctions.
Rabbitt advises consumers to:
Be wary of any contractor who knocks on your door. Call the police or sheriff’s department to check them out.
Try to get a local contractor. Call Consumer Protection (1-800-422-7128) to check out contractors. Ask contractors if they are subcontracting your job. Be careful if local contractors are using outside subcontractors.
Get lien waivers from anyone that you pay for home repairs. It is vital to do this because if the person collecting the money doesn’t pay the supplier or workers, a lien could be put on your property. This can happen unless you have a lien waiver.
Avoid some problems by paying for materials themselves by dealing directly with the supplier. We recommend this.
Get a written contract—with a start and completion date—and warranty information.
Have someone watch the work being done, if at all possible. Ask your local building inspectors to visit your job site as frequently as possible.
Request a copy of the contractor’s certificate of liability insurance.
For tips on hiring contractors, call the toll free hotline of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection: 1-800-422-7128. http://datcp.state.wi.us/