J & N REALTY, INC.

TRAVELING CONTRACTOR SCAMS  

There are groups of transient criminals that pose as door-to-door home repair contractors who rip off homeowners throughout California with painting, roofing, and paving scams. Not every door-to-door solicitor or family-owned business operates in this way; however, the Contractors State License Board urges consumers to be wary and to watch for any of these “red flags.”  

The Suspects:  

• Often related by family, and solicit door-to-door;  

• Come across as friendly, but can use high-pressure or scare tactics;  

• Are reluctant to give an up-front price or provide a written contract, and increase the price after the project is under way or completed;  

• Demand payments in cash;  

• Immediately cash checks (sometimes changing the amount before cashing);  

• Drive customized newer vehicles with out-of-state license plates;  

• Use toll-free (800) telephone numbers instead of local numbers;  

• Have post office boxes or suite numbers instead of actual street addresses;  

• Target the vulnerable, like elderly or recent immigrants; and  

• Offer complimentary inspections and then offer to fix “problems.”  

The Scams: 

• Claim they have left over material from another job at a cheap price;  

• Claim they’ll use a “sealant” but actually apply a useless, watery liquid that they spray on roofs, fences, or driveways;  

• Push a few new wood shakes under old roofing shakes and apply a useless oil; or  

• Charge by the can for painting and then exaggerate the amount they say was used.  

Tips to Avoid Being Scammed:  

• Watch out for door-to-door solicitations—especially when they want to start work immediately;  

• Be aware that your contractor must notify you of your right to cancel within three (3) days of signing a contract;  

• Be a good neighbor and report any suspicious home improvement activity if your neighbor is elderly or otherwise vulnerable; and