Arizona Attorney General warns of storm scams

Recent storms have Arizona’s Attorney General issuing a warning for homeowners: beware of unsolicited repair offers. It just might be a ripoff.

Attorney General Mark Brnovich says, ” Storm-chasing scam artists typically strike after major storms and try to take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners coping with damage. ”

Brnovich advises, ” Arizonans need to think twice before hiring a person who shows up at their door with an offer that’s too good to be true. ”

Often times contractors will show up and claim to have extra materials from a job in the neighborhood. They offer potential customers a ” discounted ” price, so they won’t have to throw away those materials. However, the savings are rarely substantial.

The Attorney General’s Office has these suggestions for avoiding home repair scams in general:

Don’t open your door to someone you don’t know. Don’t be pressured into contracting the services of a door-to-door salesperson. Check with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors at https://roc.az.gov/ to make sure the business has a license. Be suspicious of a contractor who says you need immediate repairs, especially if you didn’t contact them about the problem. Shop around. Get written estimates from at least three contractors before hiring any of them. Get a list of reference, and check them, before hiring a contractor. Ask for a written contract. Itemize the work to be done, and make sure costs and payment terms are spelled out clearly. Never pay for a job in its entirety until it’s completed to your satisfaction.

For more consumer protection tips visit https://www.azag.gov/consumer/door-to-door.