Section 9 Avoiding Home Repair Fraud

• Library: Consumer Law and Practice 2010

Consumers lose millions of dollars, and sometimes even their homes, to home repair scams and home remodeling financing. During 2007, consumers made 1,624 complaints involving home repair and remodeling to the Missouri Attorney General's Office. See:

http://ago.mo.gov/consumercomplaints/topten

To avoid becoming a victim of fraudulent home improvement practices, consumers should take several precautionary steps before they enter into a contract for home improvements. First, the consumer should be wary of contractors using a post office box and websites as a mailing address, and they should steer clear of contractors that solicit door to door or by phone. The homeowner should also conduct background research. Specifically, consumers should get at least three estimates for the project and should keep in mind that...