A Kentucky Sheriff is warning people to be careful of contractors claiming they will do your blacktop for a low price.
The warning came out in Woodford County on Friday, but now it appears that these bad blacktop contractors have been spotted in more places.
“Typically they’ll come and say ‘we have some work in the area of a driveway down the street, we have some extra blacktop. We’ll give you a great deal’,” said Sheriff Pat Melton.
Sheriff Melton says to be wary of this deal. He said these people bounce from town to town looking for work using shoddy material.
http://liarcatchers.com/fraud_investigation.html
“They’ll quote you $1,000-$1,500 price and then by the time they’re done, it’s $15,000-$20,000 for the job,” he said.
There have been reports of these bogus contractors in Franklin, Woodford, and Shelby Counties.
Some Franklin County residents were victims of this kind of scam a few years ago. The Sheriff’s Office was able to help them recover their money.
“We have reputable companies. Always look in your phone book. Make sure they have their business license, the city and the county that you live in. just be aware that these guys are slick talkers,” said Sheriff Melton.
Attorney General Andy Beshear sent out a warning about these door-to-door contractors.
Beshear said that Woodford County Sheriff Wayne “Tiny” Wright contacted his office after a Woodford County woman was pressured into overpaying contractors to seal her driveway. Sheriff Wright said the woman initially received a quote of $1,400 to complete the work, but after completed, she was told she owed $25,000. He said that the woman paid $14,000 for a project that should have cost around $4,000.
“Thanks to the quick work of Sheriff Wright’s office, payment was stopped on the check and the citizen avoided losing her money,” said Beshear. “We appreciate the Woodford County Sheriff’s Office for reporting this scam and we want to make sure more Kentuckians know the signs to watch out for when it comes to avoiding door-to-door scammers.”
Beshear said not all door-to-door salespersons are scammers, but before you commit to a door-to-door sales pitch, Beshears asks you to take time to follow these tips:
- Be wary of a low price quote
If you receive an unusually low price quote be suspicious. Before you complete any large home improvement project, consider getting multiple quotes from different contractors. - Verify and check online reviews
Verify that the contractor or business is registered to do business in Kentucky on the Secretary of State’s website, also check business licensing requirements with your city or county government. Verify online reviews through the Better Business Bureau, and ask for ID and contact previous customer references. - Avoid upfront payment
If a contractor asks for upfront payment for a small home improvement job this should trigger a red flag. Often times, very large projects require some type of upfront payment, but only after the contractor is properly screened and a guarantee contract is signed. - Do not fall for high-pressure tactics
Do not rush into making a decision. Tell the salesperson you need to discuss with your family, or you are not interested. Ensure any agreement is in writing and tell the salesperson you will review the agreement and get back in contact with them.
To report a scam contact the Attorney General’s Office at 888-432-9257 or click here. http://ag.ky.gov/family/consumerprotection/complaints/Pages/default.aspx
