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TWITTERMEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Phae Howard
(678) 705-4455
Email: phae@ncphif.org
www.ncphif.org
Free Workshop Informs Homeowners How To Protect Themselves From Home Improvement, Home Repair, And Contractor Fraud
Homeowners from the city of Roswell, and surrounding communities, will have the opportunity on Wednesday, July 28th from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the Roswell Library to attend a free “SmartPower” workshop on “How to Protect Yourself From Home Improvement, Home Repair, and Contractor Fraud.” The two hour workshop, provided by The National Center for the Prevention of Home Improvement Fraud (NCPHIF) is open to the public and will help educate consumers and homeowners on how to become their own quality control managers while undergoing a home improvement or repair project. Those interested in attending and learning more about the workshop can visit www.ncphif.org.
“Contractor fraud is on the rise,” says Phae Howard, Director of NCPHIF. “Homeowners are being targeted on a daily basis. Populations in disaster or storm affected communities, those who speak English as a second language, women, and seniors are especially vulnerable. According to AARP, “Senior citizens are particularly vulnerable to home improvement fraud. Many are “too trusting” to resist contractor demands for upfront payment, which often leads to non-performance. And too, they are, most likely, not going to report they have been victimized.”
Disaster and storm affected communities are also primary targets for contractor fraud. In 2009, The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported that more than four times as many roof repair scams involving hailstorm damage were reported in the first quarter as were reported in the same period of 2008.
NCPHIF believes that the only way to prevent these types of scams is through education. Their “SmartPower” workshops have been created to empower homeowners with the information they need to be “smart” about undertaking a project and working with a home improvement or home repair contractor. Workshops are led by subject matter experts who will help homeowners navigate through the process. Topics include: hiring a contractor, executing a contract, and handling the financial and legal aspects of completing your project.
David Colmans, the Executive Director of the Georgia insurance Information Service, will share contractor scams and horror stories while providing tips on how to prevent becoming a victim of them. “The importance of “SmartPower” workshops cannot be overstated,“ says Colmans. “Homeowners need a great deal of information about what to do and what not to do when it comes to home repairs, and offers from subcontractors that the homeowners don’t know.”
Richard J. Telesford, a Renovation/Remodeling Specialist, and Lanard Cullins a Housing and Community Development Expert, will speak about hiring contractors, understanding and executing effective contracts, and some of the most important things consumers should know before they begin their project. Both certified FEMA Disaster Housing Inspectors, will also discuss “How to stay on top of what your contractor is really doing“ and “What you should do before giving your contractor the final payment.”
The devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina illustrated how easy and prevalent contractor fraud is especially in catastrophic situations and among homeowners who are vulnerable to victimization. The state Attorney General saw an increase in complaints from contractor fraud, from about 150 a year prior to the storm to more than 6,000 in a two-year period. Those complaints led to more than 700 criminal investigations, 145 arrests and the issuance of an additional 56 arrest warrants.
Although the need for guidance and protections for consumers extends beyond the disaster Zones, Katrina brought to the surface widespread dangers that can threaten consumers throughout the nation’s quarter-trillion-dollar-a-year home repair industry. Despite its immensity, the home repair industry consists mainly of thousands of tiny firms that engage in millions of small transactions annually. Although some licensing requirements and consumer protection does exist it is regulated on a state level and is mostly reactive vs. proactive.
Founded by Phae Howard, NCPHIF is focused on preventing contractor fraud through educational workshops, an informational website and eventually a nationwide database. For Howard the fight to expose unscrupulous contractors, and educate homeowners is personal as well as professional.
“My Grandmother was the first person I knew that was financially and emotionally victimized by a fraudulent contractor.” says Phae. “I don’t know how much money she lost, but the pain on her face and in her eyes will stay with me always. My goal is to keep others from experiencing that kind of devastation.”
About NCPHIF: The National Center for the Prevention of Home Improvement Fraud is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. NCPHIF’s mission is to educate homeowners BEFORE they begin a home improvement or home repair project, to greatly reduce the chances of victimization from contractor fraud.
