GAITHERSBURG, Md. — The Gaithersburg community is still picking up the pieces after a tornado swept through in early June.
Not long after the storm, neighbors said contractors, or what appears to be contractors, have been targeting storm victims.
WUSA9 spoke to a woman who wants to remain anonymous. She told WUSA9 groups of people pretending to be contractors have been going door to door, claiming to make repairs for free, as long as insurance information is provided. She said it didn’t feel right but it sounded convincing.
“They just won’t take no for an answer," the woman said. "They're saying they can do an inspection and go through insurance and I said no leave me alone."
She said her mother, however, almost signed with a contractor, until she realized it wasn’t a legitimate business.
“I’m worried about my mom -- she’s just down the street," the woman said. "She had people come to her. I said be careful, you need to look up these people before you sign with them."
RELATED: Neighbors concerned about possible scams as contractors approach tornado victims in Gaithersburg
A sales rep for Skyfall Exteriors LLC, an accredited business, said customers should never give up any information without an insurance adjuster coming to their home first.
“Don’t give your insurance info until you have a detail report, you know their certifications and I always recommend getting a referral from a friend, family or neighbor,” Hugh Skinner with Skyfall said.
The Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection said you should always make sure contractors have a Maryland Home Improvement Commission Contractor License.
“If it’s not an emergency get three estimates," OCP Investigator Michelle Escobar said. "If it is an emergency you want to be presented with a form that waives your time to rescind on the contract.”
David Finneran, the executive director for Maryland's Home Improvement Commission, provided an example of that license, seen below.
Some other tips from the Better Business Bureau Include:
- Resist high pressure sales.
- Don’t sign any documents that give the contractor rights to your insurance claims.
- Be cautious with up front payment
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