WATCH OUT FOR STORM CHASERS
 

BBB® Serving Central Indiana warns consumers to be extra cautious when contacting businesses to make repairs caused by recent storms.

 

Indianapolis – July 14 Be extra cautious when contacting contractors, tree trimmers or other companies that may offer repair services and clean up after the storm.  Sometimes, out-of-town contractors will come into an effected area to solicit business, and then leave town with no way for the consumer to contact them regarding repairs or warranty issues. 

Some out-of-town contractors are not properly licensed or registered in our state and may only be here temporarily. In some cases, storm chasers may offer local companies money to purchase their already established telephone number to bring in customers. They may then leave town, which in some cases leaves the consumer with no assistance.  Make certain you know who you are dealing with.

BBB® offers the following tips for storm victims:

  • Some contractors are required to be licensed/registered to do home improvements.  In Marion County contact the Department of Code Enforcement at 317-327-1291.
  • Be proactive in selecting a contractor and not reactive to sales calls on the phone or door-to-door pitches.
  • Do not pay for the work in advance. Be wary of any contractor who insists on full or half payment upfront. Don’t pay more than 1/3 upfront.
  • More importantly, be wary of a contractor trying to push you to sign a contract that makes them the exclusive contractor to do the repair job. This restricts the consumer from shopping around for the best bid to repair the damage. Read all of the fine print in the contract and understand ALL terms and conditions within the contract.
  • Resist high-pressure sales tactics such as the “good deal” you’ll get only if you hire the contractor on the spot. Or if they’ve offered to work for your neighbor, friend or family at a deep discount. These are often red flags something is amiss.

To find a business you can trust, Look for The Seal. Visit www. BBB.org/Indy/ for business reviews.

About BBB® Serving Central Indiana

For more than 100 years, Better Business Bureau has been helping people find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2014, people turned to BBB more than 165 million times for BBB Business Reviews on more than 4.7 million businesses and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at bbb.org. The Council of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for 113 local, independent BBBs in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as home to its national programs on dispute resolution, advertising review, and industry self-regulation. BBB Serving Central Indiana was founded in 1916 and serves 46 counties in Indiana.

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
  July 14, 2015  
 
 
BBB
 
Media Contact:
Diana Ratcliff
pr@thecaway.com
317.650.9829
 
 
 

“BBB is your source for objective, unbiased information that you can trust when making decisions about business and charities.”

 
Timothy Mansicalo
President & CEO