CONTRACTING FOR SERVICES - PROTECTING CONSUMERS

The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office has received several complaints from area citizens regarding contracted home improvement services, including paving driveways.

When utilizing contractors it is imperative that the home owner obtain a written signed contract for the services to be rendered prior to allowing the contractor to even begin the project. That contract should include the actual costs and the full scope of what the work will entail with a beginning and end date. In other words, what are you getting for your money?

Citizens, prior to engaging in any business transaction with a contractor, should go online, check the Better Business Bureau website (or call 1-800-646-6222) and other resources to assure the contractor is legitimate.

Citizens that feel they were charged too much for these services may consider this a scam. It is not. A scam is a fraudulent or deceptive act or operation. Family Emergency Scams are an example. The caller is asking for money or personal information for deceptive reasons, pretending to represent a family member who is in Jail or needs help for health reasons when in fact none of that information is correct.

In the scenarios listed above, without a written contract, there is no way to know what the exact costs will be for a service. The spoken word may not be a reliable indicator. We urge our citizens to get everything in writing in a legal contract form to avoid unforeseen costs. If the job is not to your satisfaction work with your contractor or consult legal assistance if needed. More information about legal action that can be taken is available at http://www.mncourts.gov . See the Self-Help Guide.