Yvette, 74, was pruning her roses when a young man appeared at her gate in a fluorescent vest. He smiled warmly and pointed to a loose tile on her roof.
“I’m working nearby and noticed a loose tile on your roof that could leak when the rains come,” he said. She agreed to his offer to fix the loose tile for $150, and he went up on the roof to get started. By day’s end, he claimed he had done far more repair work to the roof, and demanded that she pay $750.
“I had to replace extra flashing and reinforce the ridge tiles,” he insisted. Yvette hadn’t asked for that. Still, he pressured her to pay immediately, saying the work was already done. She reluctantly wrote him a check for the full amount.
The next day, her son checked the work—nothing extra had been done.
Luckily for Yvette, she was able to stop payment on the check before it was cashed. But others are not always so lucky. Unlicensed contractors can target seniors, arrive unannounced, point out minor damage, and pressure homeowners into repairs that are unnecessary or unapproved.
To avoid problems, always get written quotes for jobs before allowing anyone to work on your home. And never agree to jobs from people just knocking on your door. It’s against the law for a repair company or contractor to do work without a license, without a proper contract, and many other requirements.
If you have a question about the law or a complaint in the City of Alameda, contact the City Attorney’s Office at 510-747-4775, or email [email protected]. The Alameda City Attorney’s Prosecution and Public Rights Unit enforces the law and educates the public on issues including tenants’ rights, workers’ rights, and consumer protection.
The names and facts have been changed, but this story is similar to cases we have handled.
Rico Fenix is a Paralegal-Investigator for the Alameda City Attorney’s Office. Email him at [email protected].
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