Steer clear of shady dent repair companies

• Steer clear of shady dent repair companies

The severe hail storms which hit East Texas in February left many East Texans with vehicle damage. BBB has received many calls about the number of pop-up vehicle dent repair shops, unsolicited phone calls, and ads they are seeing online and via text message. BBB advises consumers to be on the lookout for bogus dent repair company tactics.

“Dent repair scams have been around for years, and people continue to fall for them”, Mechele Agbayani Mills, President and CEO of BBB Central East Texas said. “Don’t take the chance of having someone take your money or perform shabby repair work. Choose someone you can trust.”

If someone approaches you in a parking lot, calls or sends a text message for you to reserve an appointment for repair by leaving a deposit, or you see a “too good to be true” offer for dent repair on social media, please use caution. Too often in these cases, the company takes the money and is either never heard from again.

BBB provides the following recommendations when choosing a company to repair hail damage to your vehicle:

File an insurance claim first. Check with your insurance company about policy coverage and specific filing requirements. Having a claim number will help expedite the process with the auto body repair company you choose.

Use caution with unsolicited offers. If you receive a phone call or SMS message out of the blue, or if you are approached by a stranger in a parking lot offering to repair your hail damage, be careful. Never do business with anyone without verifying the legitimacy of the company.

Don’t fall for high pressure sales tactics. Steer clear of companies or individuals who demand full payment up-front, use high pressure or now-ornever sales tactics, which are common tactics of scam artists who do not want their victims to think through their decision or do research.

Do your homework. Go to bbb.org to look up the company and the phone number the company is using to make sure the company has a history of doing good work and of creating good customer experiences.

Choose local. It’s not uncommon for repair companies to put up a temporary or “pop up” location to help with the aftermath of a storm. Many of these companies may be temporary satellite locations for local companies, however, some may be companies from out of town. Keep in mind that if you choose a company who does not have a local permanent physical location, they may be less likely to come back to make a repair should you find something they missed.

Get it in writing. Require a written agreement with anyone you hire. Be sure the company name, contact, and phone number are included in the contract. Read and understand the contract in its entirety, never sign a blank contract, and make sure a copy of the signed contract is given to you at the time of signature.

For more information.

Find valuable information to protect yourself from scams at BBB.org/ AvoidScams. If you’ve been the victim of a repair scam (whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to BBB.org/Scam-Tracker. Your report can help others avoid falling victim to scams.

Remember, great businesses are out there. Always look for the BBB seal; it’s the Sign of a Better BusinessSM. Start with companies you can trust by going to bbb. org. To report fraudulent activity or unscrupulous business practices, please call BBB at (903)581-5704 or use BBB Scam Tracker.

About BBB: BBB is a nonprofit, business-supported organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Most BBB services to consumers are free of charge. BBB provides objective advice, free BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.3 million companies, 11,000 charity reviews, dispute resolution services, alerts and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. Visit bbb. org for more information. BBB offices can be found across the United States, Canada and Mexico, including BBB Serving Central East Texas, which was founded in 1985 and serves 19 counties