Janet C. Hart, Media Contact, (704) 927-8617
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – March 20,
2009 – Today
is the first day of spring – a time to make a list of all your home improvement
projects that need to be done. The Better Business Bureau warns homeowners that
spring is the high season for home improvement scams. According to the BBB, the
home improvement industry is consistently in the top five types of businesses
that receive the most consumer complaints each year.
Consumers
should be wary of less-than-reputable or unqualified contractors who promise a
variety of services at cut-rate prices. They may show up at your door,
advertise in local newspapers, or put fliers in your mailbox. “All it takes is
a business card, a cell phone, photocopied flyers and a hammer for someone to
run their own contracting business,” said Tom Bartholomy, president of the
Better Business Bureau. “The contractor who shows up may actually be a
fly-by-night contractor who is based out-of-state, using their pick-up truck as
their office.”
“However,
there are thousands of reputable contractors who will deliver quality work, on
time and within budget,” said Bartholomy.
The Better Business
Bureau has the following advice for homeowners who hire home improvement
contractors:
- Consumer
research
– Check with the BBB to see if the contractor has unanswered or unresolved
complaints on file.
- Cost
comparisons
- Get bids based on the same building specifications, materials, labor and
time needed to complete the project.
- Licensing
-
Check to see if the specific industry requires contractors to be licensed
and make sure the contractor that you hire has the proper licensing.
- Insurance
-
Verify the contractor’s liability insurance to protect you against damage.
- References – Ask for
references and check them out.
- Written
contract
- Do not permit work to start without a signed written contract that
includes start and completion dates, exact costs and specific work to be
done. Read the fine print.
- Criminal
history
– You need to know who is in your home. Check the contractor out on the N.C.
criminal history database online.
- Bonding
–
Be sure all workers are bonded to protect you against theft and damage.
- Payment
-
Pay by check or credit card. If you are asked to pay for the entire job
up-front, this should raise a red flag. Final payment should not be due
until the job is done.
In
2008, the BBB provided consumers with 832,000 free Reliability Reports on area
businesses. The BBB encourages consumers to make informed pre-purchase
decisions so that they do not become victims of scams or contract with
businesses that have a history of failing to address and resolve consumer
complaints.
Complaints
to the BBB about home improvement contractors include a wide range of problems,
including high-pressure sales tactics, confusion over contract terms, poor
workmanship, incomplete job performance, over-charging, contracts which place
liens on homes and lead to foreclosures and scams involving advance payment for
work that never gets done.
“Unfortunately,
there are many home improvement businesses in our area that have a history of
multiple unanswered and unresolved complaints which earns them a failing grade
with the Better Business Bureau,” said Bartholomy.
There are several home
improvement contractors in the Southern Piedmont area who have earned poor
grades from the BBB including:
Lawrence Sam Weir, Jr. (BBB grade F) - Using addresses in both
Shelby, N.C. and Kings Mountain, N.C. - Mr. Weir is a home
improvement contractor who has used four business names -Weir Builders, Crete
Magic, Sun Masters and Weir Grafix. Mr. Weir has had warrants issued for his
arrest in Lincoln County and Mecklenburg County for failure to perform work
after being paid and was arrested in Lincoln County on June 15, 2008. He has
defrauded homeowners in eight counties in N.C. and S.C. out of more than
$100,000. Mr. Weir has had 17 complaints filed with the BBB in the last 36
months.
Patrick
Andy Parker alias James H. Spangler (BBB grade
F) - Mr. Parker is a home repair contractor operating in this area. He has
used fourteen different business names including Mr. Fix-It and Handy
Andy. He has also used seven different
aliases, 13 different addresses and 12 different phone numbers. Mr. Parker has
an extensive criminal history with the N.C. Division of Corrections with
convictions primarily related to cheating people out of money. He has had 15 complaints filed against him
with the BBB in the last 36 months.
George
Scott Compton
(BBB grade F) - Mr. Compton runs a
home improvement and remodeling business specializing in fencing. He has used five different business names
including Instant Install Solutions and Get it Installed. Mr. Compton has had
29 complaints filed against him with the BBB in the last 36 months.
The
Better Business Bureau has information you can trust. You can check out a
company and get a free Reliability Report on a business by visiting www.bbb.org or by calling 1-877-317-7236
toll-free in N.C. and S.C. or at (704) 927-8611.
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