Inclement weather means a rise in home repair scams. Scammers may claim to be plumbers, builders and roofers who show up “just to help.”
They claim they have leftover materials and will give you a deal. Or they offer to give you a “free” inspection.
Before agreeing to anything, homeowners should know the facts. In Maine, door-to-door home repair contractors must be licensed. They must provide a written contract which includes their license number and the homeowner’s right to cancel the job within three days.
If they aren’t from Maine, ask for their permanent place of business and license number. If they don’t have one, don’t do business with them. For more information, call the Maine Attorney General’s office at 1-800-436-2131.
The AARP Fraud Watch is working to educate the public to prevent scams, which are on the rise. For more information or to report a scam, contact local law enforcement or the AARP Fraud Watch Network at 1-877-908-3360 or www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.
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