| OCR Text |
Show Donget ripped off' by repaiFmen advance. Most reputable companies require ona-third of the total payment pay-ment (or less) as a downpaymemv Also, don't pay cash to the salesper- " son instead of writing a check to the company; ' " The Council of Better Business Bureaus has published, a booklet. "Tips on Home Improvements," which contains more information on this subject To obtain a copy, send $1.00 and a self-addresed, i stamped envelope to CBBB, Dept. 023, Washington, DC 20042-0023. Local Better Business Bureaus may also have this booklet in stock. Is the roof on your house about to cave in? Your furnace ready to explode? ex-plode? More likely, the only danger you face is getting ripped off by an unscrupulous repairman. . 1 Some traveling "repairmen" use scare tactics in order to get your business. But what you'll get for your money is shoddy workmanship workman-ship at best Often, these con artists just take your money and run; Here's another sales tactic. You're offered an unbelievably low price for a repair job because the company claims to have "leftover" material from another job. Yet legitimate contractors rarely order so much tint they have enough materials ma-terials to complete a second job. Another favorite gimmick is the ''model home'" story. A company offers to pave your driveway for one-third the price to demonstrate - its work to the community. But you may be pressured to pay hundreds more than the original quoted price. So watch out for fly-by-night op-. perators who drive vehicles with out-of-state license plates. -They often set up temporary offices in compgrounds and hotels, ready to . move quickly once authorities start looking for them. - Hpw can you- find a reputable home improvement contractor? Ask your friends, - coworkers , or neighbors for references. Then contact con-tact your local or, state government " to find out if the contractor is properly prop-erly licensed, bonded and insured. Also, check but the company with your Better Business Bureau: , Never pay for the entire job in |
