FEMA issues advice for Mississippi residents

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Mississippi residents affected by the recent tornadoes and flooding are urged by FEMA to be alert for and report potential fraud during recovery and rebuilding efforts.

Those who suspect anyone — contractor, inspector, disaster survivor or someone posing as any of these — of committing fraudulent activities should call the Disaster Fraud Hotline toll-free at 866-720-5721.

Complaints can also be made to local law enforcement agencies and through the Consumer Protection Division of the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office: Call the Attorney General’s toll free Hotline, 800-281-4418, or fax 601-359-4231.

“One of the best ways to protect yourself from home repair fraud is to get all your terms in writing,” said MIssissippi Attorney General Jim Hood, “A model contract can be downloaded at www.agjimhood.com.”

To safeguard against disaster-related fraud, officials suggest the following precautions:

Ask for ID. If someone represents him or herself as a federal employee, such as an inspector, but doesn’t produce identification, you should ask to see the identification. Note: a FEMA shirt or jacket is not absolute proof of someone’s affiliation with the government.

Inspectors sent by FEMA or verifiers from the U.S. Small Business Administration carry official, laminated photo identification. Applicants may receive a visit from more than one inspector or verifier.

Safeguard personal information. Do not give out your Social Security number, bank account or your FEMA registration number to individuals claiming to be affiliated with the federal government without verifying their identification and need for this information.

When you called FEMA to register, you were asked for your Social Security number. If you asked for direct deposit, you also gave a bank number. If a FEMA representative makes a follow-up call to you, he or she will ask for the last four digits of your Social Security number, verify other critical information which may include your banking information, depending on the reason for the call.

If you have any doubts, you can shut the door or hang up and dial the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-FEMA (3362). That way, you are in charge of the call.

Homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes with questions about the SBA disaster loan application process can call the SBA Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955.

Be alert when your doorbell rings. People going door-to-door to damaged homes or telephoning disaster survivors and claiming to be building contractors could be frauds. If visitors or callers solicit personal information such as Social Security or bank account numbers, they are not legitimate.

Federal workers do not solicit or accept money. Remember, FEMA and SBA staff members never charge applicants for disaster assistance, inspections, or for help in filling out applications. If in doubt, do not give out information. You should report people claiming to be government workers to local police.

FEMA inspectors only verify damage. FEMA inspectors do not hire or endorse specific contractors to repair damage.

If you are hiring a contractor to do work, here are some tips:

Use reliable, licensed contractors. Demand to see a license. For more information about a contractor or if you are unsure about the validity of a license, check with the Better Business Bureau and your local or state contractor licensing officials.

Get a written estimate, and be sure to read the fine print. Always get estimates from several reputable contractors before making a decision. Always hire a local contractor if at all possible.

Get references and check them. Call former customers who had similar work done to determine if they were happy with the work done.

Ask for proof of insurance. Make sure your contractor carries general liability insurance, workers’ compensation and is bonded. A homeowner could be liable for accidents on the property when working with an uninsured contractor.

Get a written contract. A complete contract should clearly state all the work to be performed, all associated costs, the payment schedule and obligate the contractor to pay for all materials ordered for the job. A contract also should contain “Buyer’s right to cancel” information.

Obtain permits. The contract should clearly state who will obtain the necessary permits. Have a lawyer review the contract if substantial costs are involved. Keep a copy of the signed contract.

Get guarantees in writing. If the contractor provides any guarantees, they should be written into the contract clearly, stating what is guaranteed, who is responsible for the guarantee and how long the guarantee is valid.

Pay by check. Avoid paying in advance and making payments in cash if at all possible. A reasonable down payment is 30 percent of the total cost of the project. Remember there is a federal law which requires a three-day “cooling off” period for unsolicited door-to-door sales of more than $25.

Make final payments only when work is completed. Do not sign completion papers or make the final payment until the work is completed to your satisfaction. A reputable contractor will not threaten you or pressure you to sign if the job is not properly finished.

More information about making disaster-related repairs or rebuilding after a disaster is available online at www.fema.gov/rebuild.


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SUBJECT: WEATHER (91%); US FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (90%); NATURAL DISASTERS (90%); JUSTICE DEPARTMENTS (90%); DISASTER & EMERGENCY AGENCIES (89%); BANKING & FINANCE (88%); SMALL BUSINESS (86%); US SOCIAL SECURITY (86%); LAW ENFORCEMENT (78%); CONSUMER LAW (78%); HOME IMPROVEMENT (76%); ATTORNEYS GENERAL (74%); ELECTRONIC BANKING (73%); LAWYERS (71%); SMALL BUSINESS LENDING (69%); SMALL BUSINESS ASSISTANCE (69%); CUSTOMER SERVICE (69%); CONSTRUCTION (60%)

ORGANIZATION: MISSISSIPPI STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE (56%)

GEOGRAPHIC: MISSISSIPPI, USA (95%) UNITED STATES (95%)

LOAD-DATE: May 20, 2011

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

PUBLICATION-TYPE: Other

JOURNAL-CODE: DHS

Copyright 2011 Federal Information and News Dispatch, Inc.

Search Terms [(contractors and disaster)] (482) View search details
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Date/Time May 20 2011 17:28:22
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