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TALLAHASSEE - Floridians who were affected by the Christmas Day tornadoes should use caution when making arrangements for home repairs, Attorney General Bill McCollum today warned in a consumer advisory. The advisory comes as residents of the affected areas face clean-up and repair efforts brought on by multiple tornadoes that tore through Columbia, Lake, Pasco and Volusia counties just two weeks earlier.

“These citizens have already been victimized once by the devastation brought on by the storms,” McCollum said. “They shouldn’t have to worry about losing their home again because of suspect business dealings.”

Residents are advised to use extra caution when hiring workers to help clean up the damage caused by the storms. Consumers face the risk that services will be offered by unlicensed individuals, that cleanup services will be offered at unconscionably high prices, or that so-called “contractors” will accept down payments but will not do any work.

McCollum suggested the following guidelines for consumers to protect themselves from unscrupulous contractors:

- Require home repair contractors to obtain all necessary government licenses and permits.
- Make sure contractors have proper occupational licenses as required by state law.
- Work only with reputable, established businesses. Take caution with “contractors” who knock on doors and offer to fix roofs and windows. Try to obtain more than one estimate for the repair work.
- Before signing a contract, check the payment terms and other provisions carefully.
- Do not pay cash to home repair contractors or tree removal services.

Anyone suspecting they may be the victim of a fraudulent business transaction may contact the Attorney General’s Fraud Hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226.)