Musician Ralph Tourkow is fondly remembered as a talented musician who had a jovial sense of humor and a schedule of dinner dates.His family and friends agree that to meet Tourkow was to instantly meet a friend.FORT WAYNE – The Better Business Bureau of Northern Indiana warns that scammer might be trolling northeast Indiana for victims after Friday’s storm.
It urges residents to beware of storm chasers and out-of-town contractors soliciting for home-repair business.
“Storm chasers might not have proper licensure for your area and may offer quick fixes or make big promises to which they won’t deliver,” said Michael Coil, president of the local bureau.
Before taking any offers the BBB offers some tips:
- Confirm that the contractor is licensed in your area.
- Be careful letting anyone you do not know inspect your roof. While most roofing contractors abide by the law, the BBB said unethical once might actually create damage to get work.
- Even though you are anxious to get started, get three or four quotes from contractors and insist that any payments be made to a company, not an individual.
- Do no pay for the job in advance. Beware of any contractor that asks for full or half payment in advance. Pay by credit card, if possible, because this might give you some protection if there is a problem.
- Resists high-pressure sales, such as a “good deal” you’ll get only if you hire the contractor on the spot.
- Get a written contract before the work begins that specifies the price, the work to be done, the amount of liability insurance coverage maintained by the contractor and a time frame for the work to be done. Require a copy of the company’s current certificate of insurance.
- Check the contractor’s vehicle to see that it has signs or marking with the company name and phone number, and whether it has an in-state license plate.
