BBB warns Middle Georgia residents about contractor scams after storms

The Better Business Bureau says residents should take their time and avoid high-pressure tactics when hiring contractors for storm repairs.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Better Business Bureau of Central Georgia is urging the public to exercise caution when hiring a contractor to repair damages following recent storms in our area.

Jason Blankenship, Vice President of The Better Business Bureau of Central Georgia, says you shouldn’t act under pressure. He says you should never sign anything you do not understand. If someone is insisting that you sign immediately, it’s a red flag that you need to find another contractor. 

“Sometimes that estimate is actually a little more,” he said. “It can be a non-compete clause written into the estimate, where it says ‘You are saying I can get on your roof, and if you don’t use me, you have to still pay me X amount of dollars.’ Unfortunately, the damage happened very quickly. Repair takes time.”

Blankenship says if the contract sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

“If they’re substantially lower, be careful, because it can creep,” he said. “At the same time, if they’re encouraging you to pad the bill to commit insurance fraud, we’ve seen that. But roofing is our number one most searched category at the BBB, especially when we’ve seen storm damage.”

Always check with your insurance company about policy coverage and any specific filing requirements the company may have. 

“With that, your insurance company is going to tell you to make an attempt so that the damage doesn’t get any worse,” he said.

Blankenship wants home and business owners to know this process may take time. 

“I drove through the Hurricane Helene damage less than a week ago, and I still see blue tarps,” he said. “Because maybe some of those people didn’t choose the right vendors. And we’ve gotten a lot of reports from that area. So, I don’t want to see home fall for the same thing.”

Blankenship recommends researching the BBB website and choosing a contractor from their website. If you believe you’re being scammed, contact your local law enforcement.