Avoid Contractor Fraud When Dealing with Debby Damage

Tropical Storm Debby is gone, but homeowners who need repairs to their residences are being warned to keep an eye out for unlicensed contractors who could storm the area in her wake.

Pasco County Sheriff’s deputies are warning folks that unscrupulous unlicensed contractors tend to flock to areas hit by a damaging event like Debby.

“A lot of the times, they come out, take advantage of people that need help, take a large deposit down and don’t come back,” said Charles Troy, a sergeant in the Sheriff’s Economic Crimes Unit.

Troy said that the Sheriff’s Office hasn’t received reports of unlicensed contractor scams related to Debby, but he’s expecting them to pop up.

“We want to ensure that people aren’t taken advantage of,” he said.

Deputies are urging folks to use licensed contractors.  Folks victimized by Debby and desperate to extricate themselves are vulnerable targets.

You don't want to be victmized twice, Troy said.

The Sheriff’s Office offered the following tips for protecting yourself against a scam:

• Hire only licensed contractors and ask to see the license. Tell the contractor that you will verify their license. You can do so online at MyFloridaLicense.com or by calling 850-487-1395.
• On any construction or repair job, don’t pay more than 10 percent down or $1,000, whichever is less, until the job is complete.
• Get three bids, check references, and get a written contract.
• Beware of scams when individuals ask for all the money up front, will only accept cash, or solicit door-to-door.
• Do not sign a certificate of completion until you are satisfied with the work done and it has been inspected by the building department.
• Require the contractor to supply a final affidavit indicating that all
subcontractors and suppliers used on the job are paid in full.
• Beware of any contractor who claims that extensive or structural repairs do not require a permit. The contractor should pull the required building permits, not the homeowner.