Don't Let Disaster Strike Twice

Beware of Cons After Natural Disasters

Austin, Texas - January 18, 2007 The Better Business Bureau warns consumer and businesses throughout Central and South Central Texas suffering from the snow and ice storm not to let disaster strike twice. “This is without a doubt the worst ice storm that many of us remember in the last several years. But, what is worse is that in the coming days and weeks, we are going to be hearing reports of citizens being victimized again. This time not by Mother Nature, but rather at the hands of unscrupulous men and women who see these kinds of disaster as money making opportunities,” said Carrie A. Hurt, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau serving Central and South Central Texas.

The BBB advises consumers not to be stampeded into signing a contract for long-term home repairs. If it is necessary to make emergency repairs to your home in order to prevent further damage, it may not always be possible or practical to shop around for a contractor as carefully as you would under normal circumstances, or to get competing bids.

According to Carrie A. Hurt, “Consumers should be wary of itinerant repairmen who come into the area. The Better Business Bureau knows from experience that in the wake of disaster, fly-by-night operators often try to take money from victims, supposedly to buy home repair materials, then leave town, never to be seen again.”

Hurt spotlighted a list of potential scams and warnings of which the BBB deems necessary for every consumer and business in Central and South Central Texas:

Door-to-Door Handymen Offering To Assist You - This can come in the form of trimming and hauling off damaged trees, ice removal, etc. Always remember that no matter how desperate the circumstances, you still have a stranger standing at your door. You should always treat these people as just as that "strangers." In addition, you should:

• Make sure you have an agreed upon price before the work begins
  
• Do not pay the full amount in advance - Once the person has your money, there is no motivation to complete the work
  
• Do not allow strangers into your home. They may be using the offer of these services as a ruse to get into your home to steal cash, checkbooks, or other private financial information.
• Make sure you have a physical address and telephone number for the person with whom you are doing business. Many times consumers attempt to file a complaint against an individual or company, but then realize they really do not have any idea who it was with whom they did business.
  
• Always check the company out with the Better Business Bureau to see if it has a report on the company. Many times scam artists flock to these kinds of disasters and the individual claiming to want to help you may actually be from out-of-state and difficult to trace.
  
• Don’t give in to any high-pressure techniques, such as, “the price is good only for today.”

Do Not Get Ahead of Your Insurance Company - Much of this damage may be covered by your home-owners policy. Before spending money, check with your insurance company first to see if the damage will be covered and what the proper procedures are to get reimbursed. If you do not follow your insurance company's guidelines, you may be stuck with the entire bill.

Phony Disaster Appeals - Typically, when these kind of events occur there will be telephone and Internet appeals to "raise money" for those hurt by the disaster. Do not feel compelled to give to a stranger over the telephone or Internet. If you do decide to give, you should verify that your donation will go to the victims of this ice storm. You can also check with the Better Business Bureau to see if it has a report on the charity and whether or not the charity meets the BBB's charity standards.

By contacting the Better Business Bureau before hiring anyone to work on your home, you can not only research the contractor’s service history, but you also can request general tips on hiring a contractor and charitable giving.

About Better Business Bureau
The Better Business Bureau, Inc. serving Central and South Central Texas (BBB) was founded in 1950 as a non-profit membership organization. The mission of the BBB is to promote and foster the highest ethical relationship between businesses and the public through voluntary self-regulation, consumer and business education, and service excellence.

This Better Business Bureau is currently supported by approximately 6,900 member businesses and serves more than 3,000,000 consumers in its 52-county service area in Texas. These counties include: Atascosa, Bandera, Bastrop, Bell, Bexar, Blanco, Bosque, Burnet, Caldwell, Calhoun, Comal, Comanche, Coryell, Dewitt, Dimmit, Edwards, Falls, Fayette, Freestone, Frio, Goliad, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hamilton, Hays, Hill, Jackson, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, Lampasas, LaSalle, Lavaca, Limestone, Llano, Maverick, McLennan, McMullen, Medina, Mills, Navarro, Real, San Saba, Travis, Uvalde, Val Verde, Victoria, Webb, Williamson, Wilson, and Zavala.