Beware! Unscrupulous Contractors at Work
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-12-12 16:14:21.799337-05:00
Several years ago, a home improvement contractor knocked on the door of an older District couple and made a pitch to perform extensive repairs on their home. When they told him they couldn't afford it, he offered to obtain financing. The couple said yes—and that agreement nearly destroyed them. The contractor failed to complete the repairs, charged unconscionable amounts for shoddy work, and pressured them to take out a series of progressively unfavorable loans to pay for it all. Thankfully the couple took their case to the AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE), which dragged the contractor and the lenders with whom he conspired into DC Superior Court and won a judgment of nearly $80,000. But others have not been so lucky.
Avoid scam artists by following the below tips.
Additional information and resources are available at (202)434-7700 or online.
If you are a DC resident over age 60 and have had trouble with a contractor, call AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly at (202)434-2120 for information and advice.
Get everything in writing—and signed by both parties.
And make sure you get copies of everything you sign. It's almost impossible to enforce an oral agreement.
Get financing on your own.
You should turn to a trusted source like a bank or credit union for financing, and loan checks should be made out to you. Do not let the home improvement contractor get your loan for you.
Get references and check them.
If a contractor is unable to provide you with references of satisfied customers, don't use him.
Make sure your contractor is licensed.
To check if a contractor is licensed, call the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs at (202)442-4311 or check online. Remember, an unlicensed home improvement contractor cannot legally demand or accept any payment before the work is completed.
Don't be pressured into signing.
Even if you do sign, D.C. law requires that contractors notify you of your three day right to cancel or "cooling off period." If the contractor says he must start right away that is a warning sign. If you need the work completed before the three days are up, the contractor is required to have you sign a special waiver of the cooling off period.
Get several estimates.
Remember, the lowest price doesn't always mean the best contractor. If there is a wide range in costs, ask the contractors for explanations. A good home improvement contractor won't mind answering your questions and won't pressure you into signing right away.
Be wary of door-to-door solicitations.
Generally, the people who go door-to-door are the ones you must watch out for. Never hire someone who approaches you about home improvement work without taking the above precautions.
Other Resources
AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly
AARP Consumer Guide to Fixing Homes
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