Here are some tips on how to avoid storm damage scams
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Lots of homeowners are still reeling from the impact of record flooding in their area, which can be extremely expensive with or without insurance.
Our I-TEAM has advice on how to save your bank .
The Office of Consumer Protection calls them “storm chasers.”
They are scam artists who prey on vulnerable homeowners in the aftermath of storm damage.
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Storm chasers ask for payments upfront and then disappear without ever doing the work.
To protect yourself, you need to do a little work yourself before handing over any money.
First, check for a professional license. You do that through a quick online search through the licensing division with Georgia Secretary of State’s Office.
In South Carolina, search licenses through labor licensing and regulation.
Second, keep in mind some professions, like roofers in Georgia do not require a license.
Amid record rainfall, how can you stay safe in floods?
The extreme weather we’re seeing this week from Tropical Storm Debby shows it doesn’t take a catastrophic hurricane to cause significant damage.
In those cases, search for a name or business through the Better Business Bureau. Read the reviews.
Third, check for a business license. You can do that by searching businesses on the Secretary of State’s website both in Georgia and South Carolina.
Even if someone is licensed, insured and bonded, get everything in writing — the specific scope of the job and the start and end date of the project.
Finally, do not pay more than one-third upfront of the total cost as a down payment.
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