Guilford Police Caution Residents About Scams

The Guilford Police Department on its Facebook page is cautioning residents about scams that could target them.

The nice weather brings a spike in contractor fraud cases here in Guilford. Chimney sweep, driveway resurfacing, and roofing repair contractors come out of the woodwork to sell you a deal. There are a few important tips to follow when confronted with the idea of a construction project or cold-call contractors offering “too good to be true” discounts.

1. Do your research:

~In the state of Connecticut contractors are required to be registered with the state. This does not mean the contractors have to pass a test with the state for most occupations it only means the contractor has paid their registration fee. Check with the Department of Consumer Protection to determine if the contractor is registered. If the contractor is registered and the repair job or construction job goes wrong, the victim can have access to the Guarantee Fund which provides compensation up to $30,000 per contract. Make sure the contractor is licensed by checking https://www.elicense.ct.gov/

~Check the Better Business Bureau for complaints against the contractor. Most people don’t know that contractors pay to be a part of the Better Business Bureau listing, but reported complaints against the contractors are required to be listed.

~Make sure the contractor is insured by checking the policy. Call the carrier and determine the status of the policy before signing the contract.

2. Ask for referrals:

~If the contractor is good they will be more than happy to provide you with at least 5 recent referrals. Make sure you call those customers and ask detailed questions. Often times, victims never make the calls believing that the contractors would not have provided those referrals if they were not valid.

3. Don’t be bullied into a construction project:

~Many victims cite that they felt bullied into giving the contractor money. Commonly, the contractor comes to the door and states they have left over material from another job and want to give the victim a discounted rate. This is the case with many of the driveway repair scams. The contractor convinces you that your driveway desperately needs repair and they have enough leftover material to complete the task. They offer a “great deal” or “way below my cost” offer. Often the material is not what it is supposed to be and the contractor will overcharge you for the shoddy work.

4. Peddling without a permit:

~Guilford requires anyone selling a product door to door to have a permit issued by the police department. This process is done to ensure that the door to door salesperson is who they say they are, and to reduce the possibility of those who can pose a risk to public safety from showing up at your house. Ask to see their permit before ever opening the door.

5. Don’t hesitate to call the police:

~The Guilford Police Department routinely responds to suspicious activity calls regarding contractors or door to door sales people. We would rather respond to the call and determine that the contractor or salesperson is legitimate than to respond later to find out that you or a neighbor has been scammed.

6. Beware of the second contractor:

~Over the years we have responded to the calls of yard work, tree work and utility work complaints. The victim is often met at the door by the suspect pretending to be with one of those companies. The suspect leads you to the outside where the work needs to be done while a second suspect enters your house to steal items. If a utility company is doing work in your yard it will come with formal notice prior to that date.

7. Get it in writing:

~As with any contract, get it in writing. If the contractor is giving you and estimate, ask him or her to list the maximum amount it will cost so there are no hidden fees. The contract should have the contractor’s name, address and CT Home Improvement Registration number. It should also include the start and end date for the work to be completed which should be signed by both the contractor and the person responsible for payment. Attached to the contract should be a Notice of the Buyer’s Right to Cancel within 3 days which does include Saturday in Connecticut.

8. Check the CT litigation website:

~Determine if your contractor has been sued in the state of Connecticut by checking the CT Judicial website. Look up the name or business name in the case look up tab for both criminal and civil. Click this tab for the site http://www.jud.ct.gov/

9. Payment:

~If you pay with cash, make sure to get a receipt every transaction. It is a good rule to pay for the job in thirds. A third for the materials up front, a third halfway through the job and a third when it is completed. Many customers actually purchase the materials on their own before hand to avoid the initial payment and risk of losing their deposit for materials.

10. When in doubt, ask:

~If you feel you may have been victimized or someone is attempting to victimize you with one of these scams, don’t hesitate to call the Guilford Police Department and ask. We are just a phone call away at 203-453-8061 and are more than happy to answer your questions.

11. Scam alerts:

~Signup for scam alerts through AARP at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork and check the smartconsumer.ct.gov website for more details.

Stay safe and share with your friends!