City Desk
Illinois Attorney General Sues ABC Plumbing
The Illinois Attorney General has sued ABC Plumbing, charging fraud and deceptive practices. The details are in the Press Release from the Attorney General (Page 7).
Along the same lines, as you know, the home improvement industry has a fair share of companies who will take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners. Just because a company advertises on TV doesn’t mean they are reputable. When it comes to sewer and water issues, I strongly suggest that you call our Public Works Department at 708-562-0940 for guidance. While they may not be able to solve your problem, they can provide valuable advice so that you will be armed with some knowledge when dealing with contractors.
As far as all home repairs, I suggest rather than picking someone off the TV, that you use local contractors. Always ask for references on work they have done in the area, contact those people as well as your friends and neighbors for references for a reliable contractor. Facebook or community page sites are also a good source to find contractors. But always, always check out the contractor, get several quotes from several contractors, and again check their references and visit their current jobsite. You can tell a lot about a contractor by the way they maintain their job site.
Never pay a contractor the full amount up front, payment should be made in stages as the work progresses. Be wary of a contractor who tells you to apply for the building permit as the homeowner doing the work – they are most likely trying to hide something. Never hire a contractor who knocks on your door unsolicited by you, who tries to offer you a deal because they are in the neighborhood working on the next block or happen to have leftover materials. The driveway sealing scam or insect treatment scams are good examples of this tactic. Be wary of offers of free installation or 2 for the price of one. No company can legitimately stay in business doing work for free or giving away materials – they will inflate prices elsewhere to make up the difference. Lastly, be very careful of financing offers. Many times an unscrupulous contractor will make more money on the financing than the job itself. Above all, take your time, don’t be pressured into signing a contract. If the contractor won’t let you think about the deal for a few days before making a decision, that’s a bad sign for trouble ahead. Get multiple quotes, take your time. Talk to friends and neighbors.
Be very careful and cautious. In the words of one of our Presidents – “Trust but verify.” My father was a carpenter, as were my brothers, and I worked a fair share of construction jobs while going to school, and I can tell you that as in any profession, there are a lot of snakes out there, but there are also a lot of honest dedicated craftsmen who take pride in their work and genuinely want to help people. They just don’t advertise on TV.
