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David Stanley Ford

Need roof work? After storms, scammers flood Oklahoma
Don’t get soaked

BY ANN KELLEY    Comments Comment on this article0
Published: March 3, 2009

Authorities are warning property owners with damage from the Feb. 10 storms to be cautious of roofing scams.

Major storms bring flocks of roofers to the state. Some do quality work, while others may be con artists, said Charlie Price, state attorney general’s spokesman.

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Tips: Avoiding contractor problems
→Don’t hire anyone that comes to you. Many roofing scams are initiated by someone knocking on your door.

→Do not pay the entire cost of the job up front.

→Ask for local references and addresses of homes roofed.

→Check with the Better Business Bureau to help ensure the company is legitimate, and find out how long it’s been in business.

→Get a warranty in writing that covers workmanship and details how a material failure will be handled.

Source: Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office

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Price cited cases in which money was paid for services that weren’t completed, or in which work was done poorly and there was no recourse for the homeowner to take.

Erik Van De Steeg, owner of an Oklahoma City roofing company, said some out-of-state companies make themselves appear to be based in Oklahoma. They get local phone numbers, and sometimes buy a former roofing company’s name, he said.

"They send salesmen, buy lots of advertising and open up shop for a few months,” Van De Steeg said. "Then they leave the state for the next storm-damaged area.”

When that happens, a homeowner can be left with almost no recourse if there are problems with the roof, he said.

What should you ask?
Since Feb. 11, the Better Business Bureau serving central Oklahoma has been flooded with applications from contractors, said Rusty Trail, executive director for the organization.

Trail said 27 roofers and general contractors have become members, many of them from out of state. He said their primary reason for joining is to enhance their reputability. If property owners are basing their decision to hire a roofer based on membership in the Better Business Bureau, Trail suggests they ask how long the roofer has been a member.

The Oklahoman’s Watchdog Team: Looking out for you. Go to NewsOK.com/watchdog.

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David Stanley Ford


Related Topics: Business, Consumer Protection, Consumer Complaints


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