Mountain Home, AR. – The City of Mountain Home – Mayor’s Office recently gave a press release warning residents against potential scammers when hiring companies to help with the removal of storm debris after Sunday’s storms. Scammers could take advantage of the situation by offering quick and easy home repairs without being licensed or insured to do so.
The original press release is pasted down below.
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Due to the recent weather event, many citizens will be hiring companies to help remove storm debris and do home repairs. Please be mindful to make sure the companies you are hiring are licensed and insured. If you want to confirm that companies have a business license, please call the City of Mountain Home at 870-425-2550.
Post-storm scammers tend to offer “quick and easy” repair jobs in exchange for an immediate deposit, sometimes even claiming that their insurance company will reimburse them. Do not feel pressured into a quick solution.
The FEMA website offered the following tips to keep in mind when hiring a contractor after a disaster:
Do your research. Scam artists will usually come to you to offer their services — either at your door, on the phone, or through email — so be especially wary of solicitors.
Don’t offer personal financial information over the phone. Know who you are dealing with and always ask for identification.
Get estimates from multiple contractors and your insurance company. Reject any offer that seems too good to be true.
Use the Better Business Bureau, www.bbb.org, and internet search engines. Fraudulent firms change names frequently, so search the web for their address and phone number, and include terms like “review,” “scam” and “complaint”.
Verify insurance. Contractors should have a disability and workers’ compensation insurance. If they don’t, you may be liable for accidents on your property.
Make sure contractors have the proper licensing and are bonded. Ensure contractors obtain the necessary permits to do the job.
Get agreements in writing. Read the contract carefully, and if you don’t understand every word, take it to an expert. Never sign a contract with blank spaces to be filled in. Make sure the contract details all work to be performed, the costs, projected completion date, and how to negotiate changes and settle disputes.
Report your concerns. Potential fraud should be reported to your local law enforcement agency.
Thank you!
Mayor Hillrey Adams
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