House enchancment scams persist in B.C., warns Higher Enterprise Bureau – BC Information
Graeme Wooden / Glacier Media – Aug 23, 2022 / 3:05 pm | Story: 381555
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House renovation scams stay persistent in B.C., routinely costing folks 1000’s of {dollars}, in response to the Higher Enterprise Bureau (BBB).
Simone Lis, president and CEO of BBB of Mainland British Columbia, says “fly-by-night” companies use high-pressure gross sales ways and demand upfront charges solely to ship shoddy work or no work in any respect.
“Householders needs to be further cautious when hiring a contractor for his or her dwelling renovation tasks, on condition that 69{039cb3d497d13c0517cca4e380353306ecb88d60826931115685fbb7eed37c07} of shoppers who encounter this rip-off lose cash, with a median common lack of $661,” stated Lis, in an announcement Aug. 23.
“When you rent the mistaken vendor, you may be dealing with a variety of issues from unfinished work and harm to your property, to shedding worthwhile time and hard-earned {dollars},” added Lis.
A typical rip-off could embrace the contractor soliciting their companies door-to-door. They provide bid guarantees and warranties that by no means come to fruition, famous the BBB.
House enchancment scams rank fourth in Canada for riskiest scams, behind cryptocurrency, advance price loans and on-line purchases.
BBB offers suggestions for stopping such scams:
- Seek for a contractor’s BBB profile at BBB.org
- Search on-line for the corporate’s web site and profile. Inquire in the event that they belong to knowledgeable affiliation that has a normal code of ethics.
- Inquire with that skilled affiliation for licensing and membership. The Trade Coaching Authority can information you on certifications for every sort of labor.
- Ask for references from earlier prospects
- Store round; get a number of quotes
- Get estimates in writing and guarantee a contract is written and understood previous to signing
- Make sure the contractor has insurance coverage
- Verify constructing permits together with your municipality and have the native constructing official examine earlier than closing fee
- Inquire a few lien waiver
The BBB of Mainland British Columbia serves the Decrease Mainland, Thompson-Okanagan, northern, central and southern Inside, and the Yukon.
