Following last week's severe storms that destroyed Pittsburgh and the surrounding Southwestern Pennsylvania areas, Attorney General Dave Sunday urges the community to be vigilant against fraudulent schemes, particularly those tied to home repairs. The warning comes amidst reports of widespread property damage that many residents and business owners struggle to address.
"My thoughts are with all those affected by the storms that ravaged western Pennsylvania last week. The unfortunate reality is that bad actors will take advantage of individuals who are vulnerable and recovering from storms which felled trees, damaged structures, and caused power outages,” said Attorney General Dave Sunday, as quoted by the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General's website.
To assist homeowners in verifying the legitimacy of contractors, the Attorney General's office recommends visiting their website, where individuals can search through registered professionals. They can also contact the Bureau of Consumer Protection at 1-800-441-2555 for any concerns or incidents regarding possible scams.
Moreover, Pennsylvania residents must know their rights when dealing with home improvement contractors. By law, contractors are required "to provide you with a copy of the complete contract, free of charge; include within their contracts several disclosures, such as the contractor’s contact and registration information, the amount of the contract, a description of the work to be performed, and insurance information; allow you to rescind your home improvement contract without penalty within three business days of the signing date, except as provided under law for emergencies; and not to take a deposit that is greater than one-third of the contract price, plus the cost of special order materials," as detailed on the Attorney General's website. Notably, contracts missing these disclosures are not enforceable against a consumer, and payment should not be demanded until the contract is complete and signed.
Residents should also consider additional steps to protect themselves, such as requesting and checking references thoroughly, obtaining multiple job bids, and checking for any filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau.
