Be Wary of Contractor Scams After Summer Storms, State Says

Many communities across southern parts of the Lehigh Valley and upper Bucks County are cleaning up from flash flooding caused by violent thunderstorms Tuesday, and in the wake of widespread damage, unscrupulous business owners sometimes try to perpetrate scams.

According to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID), property owners should be on the lookout for potentially deceptive business practices by fraudulent contractors who may try to take advantage of their vulnerability by preying on them after a localized disaster.

“Unfortunately, one of the most enjoyable times of the year is also one of the worst times for severe weather and that’s when contractor fraud is most prevalent,” said Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Michael Humphreys in a recent news release. “Pennsylvanians have every right to do their homework when it comes to hiring a contractor and should know that if an offer or high-pressure tactic doesn’t feel quite right, it’s probably best to move on and choose another contractor.”

The PID said fraudulent contractors may try to stress “the importance of immediate repairs” and then “perform substandard work with cheap products or leave town with the insurance payout.”

Other scammers may pose as public adjusters, who are individuals hired to negotiate insurance claims rather than insurance company staff.

Residents can verify that someone is a licensed public adjuster by visiting the PID website, and report someone they suspect is operating as a public adjuster without a license by calling the Insurance Department’s Consumer Services team at 877-881-6388. Officials said they should also verify that they are working with a reputable contractor who is registered and insured before signing any paperwork.

“Pennsylvanians should never pay a contractor in full or sign paperwork that indicates the contractor finished the job until the work is actually completed,” the agency stressed.

The PID recommended that homeowners always ask their contractor for referrals, where their business is located, how long they have been in business and what their experience level is with repairing storm-damaged homes.

Home improvement contractors who earn more than $5,000 per year in Pennsylvania must register their business with the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. Homeowners should ask the contractor for their Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) number and verify registration by calling the Attorney General’s Home Improvement Registration toll-free line at 1-888-520-6680.

Additional information about managing storm-related property damage can be found in PID’s After the Storm informational document.

Tuesday’s storms caused flash flooding in Center Valley, Coopersburg and Quakertown. In Lower Saucon Township, heavy rain triggered a mudslide on a section of Riverside Drive known as “The Narrows,” which was closed to traffic for a cleanup effort until mid-day Wednesday. Officially, about 1.3 inches of rain fell at Lehigh Valley International Airport, however some communities saw three to four times that amount.