Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost warns for home-repair scammers amid this week’s severe storms

[In the player above, watch previous FOX 8 News coverage of Gov. Mike DeWine’s proclamation after Tuesday’s damaging storms.]

(WKBN) — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is reminding residents to watch out for home-repair scammers and fake charities soliciting donations on behalf of those affected by the severe weather following this week’s storms .

Tuesday was an extreme weather day in Northeast Ohio, filled with damaging wind gusts, heavy rain and tornado warnings. Four tornadoes were confirmed around the region, which caused widespread damage .

“Bad actors thrive on others’ bad fortune,” Yost said in a news release. “Protect yourself from scammers – verify before you trust.”

Unscrupulous contractors are known to travel to storm-damaged communities to offer their “services” to homeowners but then perform shoddy work or no work at all. Typically, they go door to door, claiming that they can complete the work immediately.

The Attorney General’s Office advises consumers on how best to protect themselves after a natural disaster and encourages them to follow these steps to avoid home-repair scams:

• Research the business. Ask for identification from the company representative; note the person’s name, address and phone number; and be cautious of any contractor who won’t provide this information. Check out the company’s reputation with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Better Business Bureau and ask for references. You can also search for possible previous lawsuits filed by the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section.
• Get multiple written estimates. Obtaining at least three written estimates from three distinct contractors could help you weed out bad apples.
• Don’t make large payments in advance. Instead, pay in increments – for example, a third at the beginning of the job, a third after half of the work is completed to your satisfaction and the final third when the job is completed.
• Get all promises in writing. Insist on a written contract detailing the costs, the work to be done, the starting and end dates, and any verbal promises made by the contractor. The contract should also note whether subcontractors will be used and whether the contractor has or will obtain the necessary licenses and permits. Insist on being provided a copy of every document you sign or initial.
• Understand your cancellation rights. If the contract resulted from a door-to-door sale, you generally have three days to cancel the contract, according to Ohio’s Home Solicitation Sales Act. The seller should give you written notice of these rights.
• Consider paying with a credit card. Paying with a credit card, as opposed to paying in cash or by check, generally gives you greater protection to dispute unauthorized charges.

When it comes to making charitable donations, donors should research charities and ask questions.

• Visit the Attorney General’s Research Charities webpage to see whether charities have complied with registration requirements, to connect with charity watchdog organizations and to learn what others say about the group. News articles and other postings can also provide useful details about groups, board members and key employees.
• Support familiar, established organizations with a strong track record of success and experience in dealing with natural disasters. Tragedies can sometimes prompt the creation of new charities that may or may not have the needed expertise to provide meaningful relief or run a charity effectively.
• Talk with friends and family about unfamiliar solicitations . Have they heard of the group? Do they know of anyone who has been assisted by it?

Ohioans who suspect unfair sales practices or misuse of charitable resources should contact the Attorney General’s office at www.OhioProtects.org , Charitable.OhioAGO.gov or 800-282-0515.

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