A Burnaby homeowner is warning others to be on the lookout for scammers after being approached by one last week.
Charles, a retired Burnaby resident who didn’t want their last name used, dropped by the NOW office because he feared someone had tried to scam him.
He was power washing his driveway recently when someone approached to offer a “kicking good deal” to repair the pavement in front of his garage, which has suffered extensive damage over the years. The deal seemed good and Charles tentatively agree and the man said he would return with his “boss.” Two days later, they arrived to discuss the work but they wanted hundreds of dollars upfront to pay for supplies.
“That’s when I started asking more questions about who they were and why I should pay money ahead of time,” said Charles. “I figured I’d pay once they actually did work.”
The reaction left Charles suspicious so he refused to pay for supplies upfront, but assured them he’d pay through installments as work progressed.
“I never heard from them again,” he said.
The Better Business Bureau says it’s received reports of “unscrupulous contractors who trick homeowners with supposedly good deals,” said a news release. “Homeowners end up with shoddy paving work, or nothing at all, with some persons paying over $8,000 in the process.”
How the Scam Works
A contractor leaves a pamphlet or shows up at the door, says a news release. They claim they have been doing work in the area and just happened to notice the condition of your driveway or sidewalk. Since they are already working nearby, they can give you a discount. If the price is agreeable, they will then ask for a large percentage of the fee or the total amount up front.
Once they have received the money, the scam contractor may promise to start the job within a few days and then disappear completely. In other cases, the full payment was made and the contractor completed the job, however the work is shoddy and unprofessional. Attempts to follow up with the contractor are futile because of fake contact information or another company was impersonated in the process. As a result, the chances of getting a refund or getting the work fixed are not promising.
How to Avoid Contractor Scams
- Be wary of unsolicited offers. Most scams involving contractors begin when a random contractor makes an effort to go out of their way to offer an estimate that was never asked for.
- Research companies and contractors before you hire. Start with BBB.org. If the contractor has multiple negative reviews and complaints, reconsider hiring them. Often, a simple internet search will reveal companies or individuals that have been involved in fraudulent activities or provided unsatisfactory work to previous clients.
- Get everything in writing. Ask for an estimate in writing before payment is even discussed. Don’t let a contractor start working on a project until a written, signed contract outlining start and complete dates, a detailed description of the work to be provided, material costs, payment arrangements, and warranty information is provided.
- Stagger payments. Most contractors will require a percentage of the total price up front, but it should never be the full price before the work has begun. Instead, make an agreement to stagger payments, so work can be inspected at various stages of the project.
- Use safe payment methods. Paying with a credit card provides some peace of mind since the credit card company will likely offer some recourse if the company is fraudulent. Cheques are also a safe way to pay. Write them out to a company, not an individual. Paying by cash or using an electronic wallet app is risky, since there is no way to stop the payment or get cash back if anything goes wrong.
