Dwelling enchancment scams persist in B.C., warns Higher Enterprise Bureau – BC Information

Photograph: pixabay

Dwelling renovation scams stay persistent in B.C., routinely costing individuals 1000’s of {dollars}, in accordance with the Higher Enterprise Bureau (BBB).

Simone Lis, president and CEO of BBB of Mainland British Columbia, says “fly-by-night” companies use high-pressure gross sales techniques and demand upfront charges solely to ship shoddy work or no work in any respect.

“Owners ought to be further cautious when hiring a contractor for his or her residence renovation initiatives, on condition that 69% of shoppers who encounter this rip-off lose cash, with a median common lack of $661,” mentioned Lis, in a press release Aug. 23.

“For those who rent the unsuitable vendor, you may be going through a variety of issues from unfinished work and injury to your property, to dropping precious time and hard-earned {dollars},” added Lis.

A typical rip-off might embody the contractor soliciting their companies door-to-door. They provide bid guarantees and warranties that by no means come to fruition, famous the BBB.

Dwelling enchancment scams rank fourth in Canada for riskiest scams, behind cryptocurrency, advance price loans and on-line purchases.

BBB supplies ideas for stopping such scams:

• Seek for a contractor’s BBB profile at BBB.org





• Search on-line for the corporate’s web site and profile. Inquire in the event that they belong to knowledgeable affiliation that has a normal code of ethics.





• Inquire with that skilled affiliation for licensing and membership. The Business Coaching Authority can information you on certifications for every kind of labor.





• Ask for references from earlier prospects





• Store round; get a number of quotes





• Get estimates in writing and guarantee a contract is written and understood previous to signing





• Make sure the contractor has insurance coverage





• Affirm constructing permits together with your municipality and have the native constructing official examine earlier than ultimate cost





• Inquire a couple of lien waiver

The BBB of Mainland British Columbia serves the Decrease Mainland, Thompson-Okanagan, northern, central and southern Inside, and the Yukon.