BPD Community Alert: As warmer weather approaches, traveling contractors may solicit home improvement work, often targeting elderly or disabled residents. Small jobs can quickly escalate into expensive projects, with victims pressured to pay thousands for poor or incomplete repairs. Residents are urged to use caution.
Background:
- Some suspects enter the U.S. under programs that do not allow them to work during their 90-day stay.
- Many identified individuals have traveled from Ireland and the United Kingdom.
- Most home repair projects require permits; residents should check with their local city or town hall.
- Some companies lack local business certificates, were recently registered with the state, and operate newly created websites with glowing reviews.
Tactics:
- Door-to-door solicitation using paper flyers with generic business names (e.g., A1 Paving, City & Town Paving).
- Claiming they have “leftover materials” from a nearby job and offering a discounted price.
- High-pressure tactics, exaggerating the need for immediate repairs.
- Expanding the scope of work, claiming additional costly repairs are needed after the initial job.
- Threatening or intimidating behavior toward homeowners.
- Asking that checks be written to an individual rather than the company name.
Recommendations:
- Treat any unknown person approaching you about home repairs as a potential scammer.
- Obtain at least two estimates from reputable contractors who carry proper insurance and licenses, obtain required permits, and can provide references and warranties for their work.
- Verify that the contractor is registered as a Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) through the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. Licensed contractors are subject to complaints, arbitration, and the HIC Guaranty Fund.
- Anyone who believes they have been victimized should contact their local police department and provide as much information as possible, including descriptions of vehicles and license plates.