OHIO — Wednesday's tornadoes affected many Ohioans and impacted several counties. Licking and Clark counties were hit the worst, and many are now left picking through what’s left and looking for help wherever they can. 

What You Need To Know

  • The BBB warns home and business owners of storm chasers and out-of-town contractors

  • The BBB can help you find a certified contractor 

  • Homeowners can file for a value reduction if it was hit by the storm 

The Better Business Bureau warns homeowners and business owners of storm chasers and out-of-town contractors. The BBB said while everyone who falls into the category might not be scammers, they might lack the proper licensing for a certain area, offer quick fixes or make big promises they can’t deliver. 

“They may come knocking on your door, claiming to be in the area helping with another project, offering quick and seemingly inexpensive solutions,” said Judy Dollison, president of the Central Ohio BBB. “A consumer is more likely to be swindled out of their cash and left with an even bigger headache.”

In response, the BBB suggests the following to home and business owners in order to avoid phony contractors: 

  • Contact your insurance and figure out what your policy covers.
  • Resist high-pressure sales and be wary of door-to-door contractors. If someone does come to your door offering you a deal or work, then you want to check their business name, phone number, and license plate.
  • Don’t sign over insurance checks to contractors. You want to pay a contractor directly and preferably with a credit card that offers fraud protection. 
  • Be cautious regarding places you can not see. Unethical contractors might cause damage to your roof, crawl spaces, or ducts in order to create work for themselves. 

The BBB also warns contractors of storm chasers who offer to pay local construction companies to use their businesses name, reputation and phone number. These scammers will often pretend to be a local business to collect the insurance money and then move on. This will leave the real business to deal with customers that are upset due to bad workmanship, unfinished work or unfulfilled warranties.

Franklin County Auditor, Michael Stinziano, reminds homeowners that they can file for a value reduction on their home if it was damaged in the storm. This could result in lower real estate taxes while the home gets restored to its prior condition. 

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