As a result of the hailstorm on April 14, roofing contractors are soliciting repairs in the New Wilmington area. Protect yourself from an unscrupulous contractor by doing the following:
- Ensure the contractor is registered with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General (OAG). You can check by calling 1-888-520-6680 or online at hicsearch.attorneygeneral.gov.
- Ensure any contractor soliciting door to door for work has a New Wilmington Police Department Transient Business License.
- Out-of-State contractors must also be registered with the PA OAG and the PA Department of State.
- Consider getting quotes from other contractors to compare cost and quality/quantity of work.
- Get a written contract (with cost amount, down payment amount, detailed description of what is to be done, start/completion dates, etc.)
- Do not pay the full amount in advance and get a receipt for your down payment.
- Get a copy of the contractor’s proof of liability insurance / workers compensation insurance.
- The New Wilmington Police Department (NWPD) conducts limited vetting when it issues a transient business license to roofing contractors soliciting door to door. Do your own research before entering into a contract/agreement. Ask for references. Check out the contractor with the Better Business Bureau too.
- Some examples of Home Improvement Fraud include a contractor, with intent to defraud or injure, making false or misleading statements to get the contract, taking advanced money and not doing the job, and altering a contract without your consent. Most contractors are fair businesspeople but not all. A contractor doing shoddy work may not constitute fraud. A poorly done job may have to be resolved in a civil court. Again, do your research before hiring any contractor.
- Check out Pennsylvania’s Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act for more information.
