Colorado Roofing Association
Home Repair Cons

Information Provided by:
Denver District Attorney
Bill Ritter, D.A.
Fraud Hot Line 720-913-9179
Website: www.denverda.org/economic_crime_unit.htm

Itinerant home repairmen, often and usually known by the name "Travelers," arrive every Spring from southern states. "Travelers" typically prey on elderly homeowners with door-to-door roofing, paying and other home repair scams, intimidating the consumers into paying thousands of dollars for poor quality work.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE "TRAVELERS"

They peddle roofing and other repair work door-to-door.
They drive new pick-up trucks with typically out-of-state license plates.
They prey on the elderly using friendly, but high-pressure tactics.
They may say they have material left over from a previous job, or insist they did work for you before and need to "finish the job".
They quote bargain prices, but demand much more after the job.
They do poor quality work - or little or no work at all.
They will quickly leave if they think you have called the police.

TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM "TRAVELER" FRAUD

Beware door-to-door contractors.
Get at least three bids on any work, and don't always choose the lowest.
Check all contractors with your building inspection dept. and the BBB.
Insist on a written contract and don't be pressured into paying more.

IF YOU SUSPECT TRAVELERS IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

-Don't answer your door.
-Call your local police, sheriff, or district attorney's office immediately.

HOW TO CHOOSE A LEGITIMATE CONTRACTOR

BEWARE door-to-door contractors who use high-pressure or scare tactics to get you to make an immediate decision. DON'T do business with someone who comes to your door offering a bargain because he says he has materials left over from another job.

Get at least 3 written bids. DON'T always choose the lowest bidder - almost all complaints to the DA's office are contractors with very low bids. You get what you pay for!

Require the contractor to use a written contract that lists materials to be used, as well as charges and costs, and the completion date.

Pay little or nothing in advance. Pay only the cost of materials as outlined in the contract in advance, then pay the balance only when you are satisfied, and the job has been approved by a building inspector.

Call the Denver Building Inspection Service at 303-640-5903 (or your local office) to determine if the contractor is licensed. DON'T do business with an unlicensed contractor.

Ask the contractor to show you proof that he is bonded, carries liability insurance, and covers his workers with workers compensation insurance.

Does the contractor have a business card with a verifiable street address and office phone number? Be cautious of P.O. boxes and answering machines / pagers only.

Call the Better Business Bureau for a reliability report at 303-758-2100 or online at denverbbb.org

DON'T make final payment until 1) you're satisfied, 2) you've received a "lien waiver" that shows the contractor has paid his subcontractors and suppliers, and 3) the building inspector has signed off on the job.