Colorado AG Cynthia Coffman: Don’t be a roofing scammer’s “April fool”

Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman warns homeowners to avoid falling for a roofer’s “too-good-to-be-true” offer and becoming an “April fool.”

The “fly-by-night” contractor will take a homeowner’s hard-earned money and leave without completing a roofing job or even buying the shingles, according to a news release Friday by Coffman’s spokesman Roger Hudson.

Following record snow falls in March, roofing scams are expected to increase in April and May, Hudson’s news release says. Coffman said her office fielded more than 100 complaints about possibly shady roofers in 2015.

“Many of these unlicensed roofing companies will canvas an entire neighborhood following large snow, hail, or rainstorm. They pitch a limited time ‘special offer’ and promise to do repairs that either never get done or cause real damage to a homeowner’s roof,” Coffman said.

She cautioned homeowners to do their homework and not fall for high pressure sales tactics.

“Remember, if a deal sound too good to be true… it probably is,” she said.

Coffman offered some consumer tips to avoid roofing scams:

• Never allow an uninvited contractor to inspect your roof or to contact your insurance company directly.

• Say no to contractors requesting an immediate decision.

• Contact insurer before spending a significant amount of money on a new roof.

• Arrange to have an authorized adjuster come to your home.

• Obtain at least three bids from different contractors and check each one with organizations like your local Better Business Bureau.

Bad contractors will do shoddy work, often damaging property, and delay completing the work, according to Coffman.

Roofers must provide a written contract with his contact information, give approximate dates and costs of service and identify his contractor’s surety and liability coverage insurer. Homeowners have up to 72 hours to rescind the contract.

 

Read more here: http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_29713012/colorado-ag-cynthia-coffman-dont-be-roofing-scammers

 

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