I read your editor’s recent column about how he nearly got scammed by someone calling about his Visa credit card account and felt compelled to share what happened to me.
I don’t want others to make the same mistake.
I received a pamphlet at my door two years ago that said they were doing work on driveways in my South Burnaby neighbourhood.
I’m a homeowner, retired and now single. My ex used to make these kinds of repairs around the house and so I need to hire out for these kinds of things. The driveway is old and needs resurfacing but I’ve put it off for years due to the expense.
The pamphlet and not said they noticed that my driveway that had cracks and that they could easily and affordably fill them in so I don’t have to pay to re-do the entire driveway. They even said they had a “special discount” if I paid in cash.
I decided to look into this and called the number. The price they quoted me seemed reasonable and we agree on an amount to be paid in cash upfront so they could purchase supplies.
After I gave the guy the money, we set a date for the repairs, but when that day came, nobody showed up. I called the number and it was out of service. I was told by a friend that it was likely a “burner phone” and that I had been scammed.
I felt really embarrassed about the whole thing because I fell for it so completely. I did manage to negotiate for a lower upfront fee than what they originally asked for, but I still just handed over money that I’ll never see again.
Please don’t be me.
This is what I found on the Better Business Bureau website to warn people about these kinds of 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.
Tracy G. (The last name has been withheld at the request of the writer due to being a victim of crime.), Burnaby
