With many Calgarians looking at fixing the damage to their homes from last weeks hail storm, I am glad the city is also stepping up their communications to remind everyone that there are scammers!
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As a result of the destructive hailstorm on Monday evening, The City of Calgary is reminding Calgarians of the importance of hiring legitimate, licensed businesses as they start to consider repairs to their property.
If you live in a community affected by the hailstorm, you may see an increase in contractors coming to your door. The City wants to remind Calgarians of the following when choosing a contractor:
– Check the identification tag of any door-to-door salespeople, for authenticity and a name.
-Do not pay for services in full before they are completed.
-Ensure that the contractor holds a valid City of Calgary Business Licence by phoning 311 or using the Calgary.ca database tool to search the list of licensed trade contractors.
-Ask for detailed estimates from multiple contractors. When you have decided on who to hire, ask the contractor to provide a comprehensive, written contract that includes both project and business details.
-Ask potential contractors for references.
-Verify that the contractor carries liability insurance.
-After the work is complete, verify that there are no builder’s liens registered to your land title. A builder’s lien is a legal notice filed by unpaid suppliers or subcontractors for materials or work on your property.
To support homeowners, peace officers will be visiting affected communities in the coming days. Michael Briegel, the Deputy Chief of Business Safety, explains that, “They will help make sure that contractors have the right business licenses to work in Calgary and that residential home repairs are done safely.”
Fraud prevention begins with fraud awareness. Calgarians should make sure a company is licensed before entering into a contract. Businesses licensed by The City of Calgary have had their qualifications validated and meet the necessary regulations and standards to operate in Calgary. There are more than 10,000 licensed contractors in the city who provide excellent services for Calgarians.
“We are asking Calgarians to make sure they are hiring licensed contractors for their safety,” adds Briegel. “Remember, legitimate businesses will have the necessary permits and a licence number available when asked.”
For more information visit the hiring a contractor webpage or watch our webinar on how to hire a contractor. Additional contractor hiring recommendations can be found through Service Alberta.
For residents cleaning up after the storm, The City is offering free clean up options from August 10 to September 1, 2024.
· Calgarians can bring broken branches and other yard waste to any City Eco Centre at no cost. For hours and locations, visit Eco Centre Locations and Hours.
· The following communities: Beddington, Coventry Hills, Harvest Hills, Livingston, Panorama, Redstone, Saddleridge, Skyview and Taradale will have temporary garbage bins placed around the neighborhoods to help with any debris cleanup including large trees, vinyl siding, shingles, and other damaged items. Locations will be posted at What to do about damage from storms.
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