HARRISBURG —Attorney General Tom Corbett urged consumers to carefully evaluate contractors and fully understand their rights before signing a contract for a home repair or home remodeling project.
“Problems involving home improvement or repairs are typically one of the top subjects for consumer calls and complaints during the spring and summer months,” Corbett said. “It is important for consumers to thoroughly research contractors and take precautions before starting projects, to avoid frustrating and potentially expensive problems in the future.”
Corbett said that the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection has received nearly 2,100 complaints over the past year involving home renovation projects, ranging from general repairs and remodeling to roofing, painting, plumbing and other specialized trades.
Recently, Corbett announced more than $270,000 in consumer protection settlements involving home improvement contractors from throughout Pennsylvania, concerning complaints about incomplete or sub-standard work, improper or illegal contract terms and violations of the state’s Do Not Call law. Several of the individuals involved in those cases are permanently prohibited from ever owning or operating home renovation or repair businesses in Pennsylvania, while others must pay refunds to consumers and make substantial changes in their contracts and business practices.
“The majority of contractors operating in Pennsylvania are hard-working men and women who provide quality service,” Corbett said. “Unfortunately, there are a small number of individuals who are either unable or uninterested in providing good service to consumers – but consumers can avoid most problems by doing a little homework before signing a contract.
Corbett urged consumers to take steps to protect themselves from unscrupulous contractors, including:
-Research contractors carefully before signing any contract.
-Get multiple estimates.
-Get references for recent work, and check those references (ask other consumers if they were happy with the work that was performed, if there were any problems and if they would hire that contractor again).
-Verify that the contractor has a physical address, not just a business card or sign on a truck (You want to be able to locate the contractor if there is a problem with the work).
-Read the entire contract before signing anything (If a salesperson tells you “not to worry” about an item in the contract, you should proceed with extreme caution).
-Don’t feel pressured by “special offers” or deals on “leftover” materials.
-Be wary of contractors who approach you with unsolicited offers or stories of “just being in the neighborhood.”
-Check with the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection (1-800-441-2555) to determine if any state legal action has ever been brought against the contractor.
-Check with the Better Business Bureau in your area to determine if the contractor has a history of unresolved consumer complaints.
Additionally, Corbett said that consumers should always get a written contract which includes all of the major details for a project:
-A start date and end date, along with a timeline for larger projects.
-A list of all costs for supplies and labor.
-A list of materials, including any brand-name items that you have specified.
-Details about any warranties or guarantees.
-Responsibility for clean-up of waste materials and debris.
-Who will obtain all necessary permits and inspections.
-Information about the contractor’s insurance for any injuries that might occur on the job-site, as well as any damage done to your home and property.
-A payment schedule, with final payment due after the job is completed.
-A notice of your three day right to cancel the contract – If that cancellation notice is missing or the contractor does not explain your right to cancel, do not proceed.
-If you cannot afford to pay for the contract without financing, make sure that the terms of acceptable financing are stated in the contract and that the contract is void if you cannot get those terms.
-Never sign a blank contract.
Corbett urges consumers with questions or problems to contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-441-2555 or file an online consumer complaint using the Attorney General’s Web site. (Highlight the “Complaints” button on the front page of the website and select “Consumer Complaints” from the drop-down menu).