The home improvement season has started, and COMBAT is already receiving calls from suspicious consumers who have been approached by door-to-door solicitors offering to do a “free estimate” of roof, driveway or structural repairs. These unsolicited visitors might be legitimate and competent or legitimate but not competent. Or they may be setting up targets for home improvement fraud.

No one is immune to fraud, but older citizens who live alone are common targets. Typical examples of home improvement fraud include: a roof repair consisting of sealants just slopped onto existing shingles or flashing; siding installed poorly and jobs not completed; thin layers of asphalt on driveways that begin to crack and fall apart soon after installation; and phony outfits that require a down payment to “purchase materials,” then disappear.

These scams can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, but can be avoided if you think twice before signing a contract or opening your checkbook.

Your first hint that a home repair outfit might not be legitimate is if your initial contact with the company is at your front door. Most reputable businesses don’t solicit door-to-door; they advertise and let consumers contact them. If someone comes to your home, do not sign a contract or pay for anything until you check their reputability.

Request a letterhead, business card, estimate form or other printed information with a pre-printed local office and phone number. If they hesitate, say, “Thanks, but no thanks.” But even if they do have materials that might have been printed to make them look legitimate, do not agree to do business before checking their phone book listing, calling their office to confirm that it at least exists, and contacting COMBAT or the Chamber of Commerce to see if they are familiar with the company.

Whether you were solicited at your door or responding to an advertisement or phone book listing, get a written estimate that clearly describes the work to be done. Then arrange for estimates from one or more other local companies and compare.

Should you sign something then have second thoughts, Maine law says that if a contract is for permanent home improvements, the seller may not even begin work – unless it involves a true emergency – until three days have expired. You have the right to quit the agreement in writing if you change your mind.

Never pay off a job until you carefully examine the work for which you contracted and are certain it has been completed to your satisfaction. Have a third party familiar with home repairs check the work before you pay the balance.

Be cautious and you can avoid a rip-off for which there is often no remedy because the salesmen have escaped to another state or county to cheat others.

If you believe you have been targeted for fraud, contact law enforcement officials immediately with a vehicle description and license plate number if possible. Only with prompt action can the public be warned about these traveling thieves before their truck arrives in the next driveway.

About COMBAT: Since 1972, hundreds of Maine people have helped thousands of their neighbors by donating their time and energy as COMBAT volunteers. But the number of people being victimized, especially over the Internet, is increasing rapidly and the problems are becoming more complex and time-consuming to resolve. And helping people costs money.

COMBAT receives no public money. Tax-deductible donations and memberships keep Maine’s oldest consumer organization strong, effective and independent. During its annual spring appeal, COMBAT asks its thousands of former clients, loyal readers of Consumer Forum, and others who believe in their work to consider a donation to COMBAT. Donations may be sent to P.O. Box 1183, Bangor 04402. Every gift counts and goes to work immediately protecting Maine consumers.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT (Consumers Of Maine Bringing Action Together), Maine’s membership-funded nonprofit consumer organization. Individual memberships $25, business rates start at $125 (0-10 employees). For help and information write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.