WREX.com – Rockford’s News LeaderBBB offers tips to avoid flood recovery scams

BBB offers tips to avoid flood recovery scams

UNDATED (PRESS RELEASE) - The Better Business Bureau wants to make sure people cleaning up from last week's floods do not get scammed.

The BBB offers the following tips as you start to clean-up and rebuild:

1) Be very careful before contracting to have damage or destroyed property repaired.

2) Do not give into demands to make excessively large down payments. And don't make full payment until all the work is done to your satisfaction

3) Do research – contact the BBB before you hire a contractor and avoid businesses who come to your door with a good deal.

4) Ask to see any required state or local permits or licenses.

5) Work with local contractors who have a verifiable track record.

According, to the Illinois Attorney General's Office, Illinois has a Home Repair and Remodeling Act that requires contractors to furnish customers with written contracts for any repair or remodeling work costing more than $1,000. Additionally, the Act states a contract must be signed by both the customer and the contractor.

The law also requires contractors to carry at least minimum amounts of insurance for property damage, bodily injury and improper home repair.

Residents who would like information on a business can contact the Rockford office of the Better Business Bureau at 815-963-2222 or visit our web site at www.bbb.org