Scammers may be chasing your wallet in light of recent flooding. That's the word from the Better Business Bureau, which warns consumers to be wary of fly-by-night 'storm chasers' and fraudulent charities promising to provide relief.

BBB recomments you do your research to avoid being taken advantage of by untrustworthy home contractors and others.

If you want to donate to storm relief, BBB Wise Give Alliance urges you to check trustworthy charities before making any donations. One of the best places you can go to find organizations taking donations is the LINCC website, set up by the Community Foundation of North Louisiana.

Ark-La-Tex BBB President Andy Fisher tells us we need to make sure our money goes to competent relief organizations that are equipped and experienced to handle the unique challenges of providing assistance.

"Not only do Americans need to be concerned about avoiding fraud, they need to know that their home contractors and charity relief efforts are legitimate and honorable," Fisher said. "It's imperative to find a home contractor and charity that you can trust."

Here are some tips from the BBB:

Start your search with BBB.

In addition to offering Business Reviews on tens of thousands of contractors-good and bad-across the US, you can also rely on BBB’s Accredited Business Locator to find trustworthy contractors in your area. BBB accreditation standards require that accredited businesses make a good faith effort to resolve disputes.

Find trustworthy charities when aiding to relief.

BBB Wise Giving Alliance urges donors to make sure their donations will go to legitimate and reputable charities and relief efforts that have the capability to help those in need. Be cautious when relying on third-party recommendations such as bloggers or other Web sites, as they might not have fully researched the listed relief organizations. Interested donors should visit www.bbb.org/charity to research charities and relief organizations to verify that they are accredited by the BBB and meet the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Recognize the red flags.

Beware of any contractor who uses high pressure sales tactics or requires full payment upfront. Also avoid contractors who require you to get the necessary permits. When looking to make a donation, be cautious about online giving, especially in response to spam messages and emails that claim to link to a relief organization. In response to the previous natural disasters, there were concerns raised about many Web sites and new organizations that were created overnight allegedly to help victims.

Vet the contractor carefully.

Verify the business meets all state and local requirements including being licensed, insured and bonded. Also ask the business for references from recent jobs. Confirm whether or not the contractor will be subcontracting the job or relying on their own employees.

Beware of storm chasers.

In the wake of a storm, fly-by-night repair businesses will solicit work, often door-to-door, in unmarked trucks. They might require advance payment and make big promises on which they won’t be able to deliver.

Seek at least three bids.

Beware of low-ball estimates that may potentially balloon over time or foreshadow shoddy work to come.

Make sure everything is in writing.

Make sure that the full scope of the work is explained in the contract including cleanup and disposal of waste. All verbal agreements need to be included in the written agreement. Pay close attention to the payment terms, estimated price of materials and labor and any warranties or guarantees.

 

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