When the front porch on David and Kathy's row house needed renovating, the couple called a local home improvement contractor to get an estimate for the work. They decided to give him their business and paid in advance. His crew began to work, but they often came late or never showed up at all. As weeks passed, David and Kathy grew impatient, and the work on the porch remained unfinished. When they called the contractor, they were shocked when a recording said the number was no longer in service.

An unscrupulous contractor may request full payment before completing the work and then not complete the job to the homeowner's satisfaction. They may also fail to provide a written contract.

Unscrupulous home improvement contractors often prey on seniors. They use high-pressure sales tactics to win over customers, often promising to begin and complete the work more quickly than other companies in the area.

The Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act (HICPA) is designed to ensure consumers get a fair deal from a contractor. This law requires all home improvement contractors, with limited exceptions, to register with the Office of Attorney General and to display their registration number on all advertising and contracts. Contracts for home improvements and upgrades of $500 or more are mandatory under this law and must be signed by the consumer and contractor before the work begins. The contract must state the exact work to be done and include a starting and completion date along with the total cost for the project.

To determine if a contractor is registered, consumers should call the Office of Attorney General, Home Improvement Consumer Information Toll-Free Helpline at 1-888-520-6680.

Tips for dealing with unscrupulous home contractors:

• Beware of the contractor who comes to your door unsolicited.
• Beware of the contractor who offers reduced prices for work using "left-over" materials from a previous job. Beware of the contractor who gives a post office box without a street address or phone number, or just an answering service as a means of contacting him.

Tips when having home repairs done:

• Don't use a contractor who has no experience performing the work you need to have done. The contractor should be able to share references and give examples of workmanship on similar projects. If the contractor requires subcontractors, such as an electrician or a plumber, ask for their names and check them out too.
• Obtain at least three estimates for the improvement project.
• Always get a written contract before you allow someone to work on your home.
• Examine the contract carefully, making sure it includes descriptions of the exact type of improvements to be done, estimated completion date and payment schedule.
• Don't pay a contractor before you read and sign a contract. HICPA only permits contractors to request or accept a 1/3 deposit, plus the cost of 'special order materials' at the signing of the contract for any job over $1,000.00
• Verify that the contractor has the minimum insurance coverage of $50,000.00 for property damage and $50,000.00 for personal injury, mandated under HICPA
• Registration is not an endorsement, recommendation or approval by the Office of Attorney General of the contractor's competency or skill.

To file a complaint, call the Office of Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection, toll-free helpline at 1-800-441-2555 or visit www.attorneygeneral.gov.

Source: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, A Consumer Reference Guide for Seniors: How to Avoid Scam and Fraud.