Arizona AG Brnovich Warns Of Storm Damage Home Repair Scams

ARIZONA – With recent storms damaging homes and yards and otherwise impacting the state, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is warning residents to be on the lookout for home repair scam artists. Some of these scammers will tell homeowners they have extra materials right now because of work they are already doing around the neighborhood. The scammer then gives the homeowner a “reduced” materials price tag so that the materials won’t have to be discarded by the contractor, supposedly.

“Storm-chasing scam artists typically strike after major storms and try to take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners coping with damage. 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,” stated Brnovich in a media release.

Accordingly, Brnovich’s office shared the following eight tips for homeowners to follow to avoid home repair scams:

1. If someone you don’t know is at your door, don’t open it.
2. Don’t feel pressured into making a fast decision in response to a door-to-door salesperson’s contracting pitch.
3. Check the contractor’s license status with the Arizona Registrar of Contractors at roc.az.gov. You can also find any complaints against the contractor at the ROC website.
4. Be skeptical when a contractor tells you that something has to be fixed immediately, especially if they stopped by without you requesting their visit.
5. Get written estimates from three or more contractors and compare them.
6. Ask for and check the contractor’s references before hiring them.
7. Request a written contract that itemizes each part of the work to be completed, including all related fees and payment terms.
8. Don’t finish paying for the job in full until the work is finished to your satisfaction.

If you think you have been scammed by a home repair contractor or have been the victim of any consumer fraud of any type, a consumer complaint can be filed at the Attorney General’s website. Or you can request a paper complaint form be mailed to you by calling the AG’s office at 602-542-5763 in the Phoenix area, 520-628-6648 in the Tucson area or 800-352-8431 for other areas in Arizona.