Denver BBB Issues Warning Over Roofing Scam
The Denver Better Business Bureau has launched an investigation into a roofing company thought to have taken thousands of dollars from homeowners.
The owners, Aaron Lee Jackson and Mario Alberto Vasquez, the BBB says, have operated under numerous business names. Those include: A Umbrella Roofing, Affordable Exteriors, Altitude Renovations, Amigos Roofing, Claims Adjuster, Home and Auto Claims Adjuster, Hybrid Remodeling Concepts, Hybrid Remodeling and Solar, Hybrid Remodeling Group, Hybrid Systems, Jackson Roofing, MJN Sales, and ProSales and Marketing.
Consumers have alleged that the listed businesses receive payment, then fail to actually complete the promised work.
The BBB is asking that any more homeowners who have encountered these companies file a statement with the local BBB office.
This comes just a few weeks after Colorado Attorney General Cynthia H. Coffman released a statement warning homeowners to beware roofing scams following numerous hailstorms. Some of these scams, like the one the BBB is warning about, involve taking deposits without ever doing any work; others involve doing shoddy work or using sub-par materials (good roofing materials ought to last for between 25 and 50 years, if properly installed).
“Coloradans are no doubt eager to repair weather-related damage to their homes and property,” Coffman said in a press release. “But, it’s important for Coloradans to take their time choosing a contractor that best fits their needs and to safeguard themselves, their family and their friends from those trying to take advantage of this situation.”
Tips for Dealing with Home Contractors
The Better Business Bureau has also released a set of consumer tips to aid in choosing reputable roofing contractors:
- Request more than one estimate, and preferably at least three.
- Don’t feel pressured to make an on-the-spot commitment.
- Get everything in writing and read all contracts carefully before signing.
- Ask for and check references.
- Never pay in full until work has been completed. Do not give a down payment until materials have been ordered.
- Pay via a traceable method (such as credit card), never with cash.
