[June 10, 2013]SPRINGFIELD -- There is always a
possibility of severe weather during the summer months -- weather
that can and often does cause major damage to homes and businesses.
Once the storm is over, Illinois homeowners are likely to face the
arrival of unscrupulous contractors who seek to prey on desperate
owners.
"When disaster strikes, a family's first instinct is to get repairs
underway as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, predators understand
that desire and take advantage of families trying to restore their
homes," said Manuel Flores, acting secretary of financial and
professional regulation. "Using licensed professionals will help
protect homeowners."
A law signed by Gov. Pat Quinn in 2011 helps
protect homeowners from contractors who prey on individuals
following natural disasters. Unlicensed contractors travel to towns
after natural disasters and target homeowners, especially elderly
citizens, through home repair scams. These contractors misrepresent
themselves in order to persuade homeowners to sign contracts for
home repairs. If the work is done at all, it oftentimes must be
redone due to its poor quality.
The law prohibits roofing contractors from allowing out-of-state
roofing contractors to lease their license numbers for compensation.
It also requires roofing contractors to include their license number
on all contracts, bids and advertisements. Additionally, the law
enables residents to cancel a contract and requires contractors to
refund any payments within 10 days of the cancellation.
Finally, before hiring any roofing company, check the
IDFPR.com
license look-up to make sure that a roofing company is licensed
and in good standing with the state of Illinois. Consumers are
highly encouraged to hire licensed roofing companies because they
are required to hold insurance and perform work that meets minimum
industry standards. A comprehensive list of licensed roofers, sorted
by county, is also available.
Licensed roofers are also required to have the name of their firm
properly identified on their trucks and must use their license
number on any advertising or marketing materials. General
contractors are not permitted to provide roofing services unless
they also have an active roofing contractor license.
Unlicensed roofing is a criminal offense, and first offenders can
be charged with a Class A misdemeanor and be sentenced to up to 364
days in prison. Subsequent violations are Class 4 felonies that
could result in one to three years of incarceration.
After a heavy thunderstorm, tornado or other natural disaster,
families and business owners should take additional care when hiring
a contractor to repair any damage:
Take immediate
steps to prevent additional damage to buildings, but do not get
rid of damaged materials until after an insurance company
assessment of damage.
Make sure any
damage is repaired by reputable contractors. Check with local
building departments or the Better Business Bureau for guidance.
Make sure roofers
are licensed and in good standing with IDFPR
Don't rush into
signing a contract. Collect a number of written estimates for
the job.
Notify the
insurance company immediately and work with its representative
to evaluate the damage and review your policies for coverage
information.
If there is major damage due to storms
or flooding in a community, the county may be eligible for
disaster assistance. To learn more about that, visit
Ready Illinois.