Iowans in the 56 counties declared disaster areas should look out for price gouging and other scams, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller warns.
His office also advises consumers to be wary of home-repair scams and shady cleanup and construction contractors who tend to solicit victims of natural disasters. Many of these contractors come from out of state, seek business door-to-door and ask for advance payment.
“Price gouging is substantially raising prices for needed goods or services,” Miller said. “Taking advantage of flood victims in these declared counties is illegal and is something our office will pursue.”
Other consumer tips for flood victims
- Check out the contractor before you sign a contract or pay any money. Ask if the contractor is registered with the Iowa Workforce Development's Division of Labor Services. You can check a contractor's registration online through the Division of Labor Services website, or call 1-800-562-4692 or 515-242-5871). Be sure to check local references and hire local contractors when possible. (If you do not know the contractor, consider taking photographs of license plates, vehicles, driver’s licenses, etc.) Also, check Iowa Courts Online for past court cases, and see if there are complaints on file with the Better Business Bureau and the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
- Get it in writing. Seek several written estimates for the job you want done. Before any work begins, agree on a written contract detailing work to be done, type and quality of materials to be used, responsibility for permits, costs, and any other promises. Request a copy of the contractor's liability insurance certificate. Put start and completion dates in writing and consequences if the contractor fails to follow them (For example: The contract could be nullified if the contractor doesn't start on time or finish on time.).
- Avoid paying large sums in advance to a contractor. If you have to make a partial advance payment for materials, make your check out to the supplier and the contractor. Insist on a "mechanic's lien waiver" in case the contractor fails to pay others for materials or labor.
- Do not make a rushed decision or agree to a contract that you do not want just because the contractor tells you that he is busy.
- In most cases, Iowa's Door-to-Door Sales law gives you three business days to cancel a contract signed at your home.
Advice for contractors
- A consumer contract must contain all of the material terms, and be fully disclosed to the consumer before the consumer signs the contract — and the contractor must leave a complete copy with the consumer after it is signed.
- While a contractor can advise a consumer on what work and materials are needed to repair storm damage, the consumer must be the person to negotiate the insurance claim with the insurance adjustor or the company.
- If the Iowa Door-to-Door Sales Act applies to the sale, the seller must use the proper language and format required in Iowa and provide the proper Iowa cancellation forms at the time of sale. (Use of any other form could result in the voiding of the contract as well as criminal or civil penalties.)
- If the damage to a residential property was caused by a natural “catastrophe” such as flood, fire or storm; the contractor must provide an additional written notice using the proper language and format required by the State Building Code. (Use of any other form could result in the voiding of the contract as well as criminal or civil penalties.)
- A seller cannot include provisions in a contract that materially misrepresent the legal rights of either party, even if the seller has no intention of enforcing the misrepresentations.
- A person collecting on a consumer debt cannot threaten to take action that the collector has no intention of taking.
- If the contractor intends to enforce the document as a contract, the document must clearly and conspicuously disclose that it is a binding contract before the consumer signs it.
- State law prohibits price gouging when a county has been declared a disaster area.
Consumers should contact the Consumer Protection Division if they have consumer complaints about questionable contractors or about price-gouging:
Web: www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov
Phone: 515-281-5926 (toll-free number outside of the Des Moines area: 888-777-4590)
Email: consumer@ag.iowa.gov