After Extreme Weather, Bucks Co. Warns Of Home Improvement Scams

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — With tornadoes and heavy rain causing significant property damage this summer, home improvement projects are taking off in Bucks County.

While the boon to local business is welcome following the pandemic, officials are warning the public about potential fraud.

The county reports a significant increase in complaints over no-shows from contractors, schedules not being followed, and unqualified individuals being hired for complex work.

"While most home improvement contractors operate an honest business, there are those who engage in deceptive practices and potentially defraud consumers of large sums of money," Mike Bannon, the director of the Bucks County Department of Consumer Protection/Weights & Measures, said in a recent conversation with District Attorney Matt Weintraub.

Some basic steps that can be taken: check with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office to be sure that the contractor is registered with the state. Then, call the county's Department of Consumer Protection to ensure the contractor has no complaints against them.

Related to the recent extreme weather, Bannon added that homeowners and renters should check their insurance policies. Even individuals who have never been impacted by storms in the past should consider that they may be in the future.

"We're seeing places that have flooded that have never flooded before," Bannon said, noting other risks like falling trees and wires that can fall anywhere.

Watch the full conversation below: