Attorney General warns of repair fraud

As the clean-up and repair work gets underway in full following Hurricane Sandy, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden is warning residents of repair fraud.

Biden offered a series of tips to avoid home improvement scams for those getting repair work done on their homes or businesses.  

Make sure a contractor is licensed and bonded.
Get references and follow-up on them. Ask your neighbors about a contractor’s reputation, and check them out with the Better Business Bureau.
Be wary of door-to-door solicitations.
Never pay for work up front. Full payment shouldn’t be made until the job has been completed to your satisfaction.
Always obtain a written proposal including a cost estimate; consider obtaining multiple proposals and estimates.
Call the Attorney General’s Consumer Fraud Hotline to report any suspected wrongdoing: 1-800-220-5424.

 

If you suspect you have been scammed or have received a suspicious call or email, you can call the Attorney General’s toll-free Consumer Hotline at 1-800-220-5424 or email the Consumer Protection Unit at consumer.protection@state.de.us.