State AG issues warning to scammers, price gougers

GENEVA — County Road 6 just west of the city here is Geneva’s version of the Grand Canyon.

Alabama Attorney General Troy King stood at the edge of a swath of road washed away by about 15 inches of rain in the past two weeks. The rip in the road stretches about 120 feet long and has swept tons of earth away.

It could take months to fix just this road. Meanwhile, more than 100 roads were closed in Geneva County as of the weekend. Hundreds of homes have been damaged by flood waters.

King made his way through Houston County and Geneva County Monday to warn price gougers and scammers not to take advantage of a difficult situation.

“The worst that nature has to offer brings out the best in our citizens, coming together to help those in need,” King said Monday. “Unfortunately, it also brings out the unscrupulous, the con artists looking to prey upon those affected.”

King said he believes a loud, public warning to scammers early after a disaster lessens the occurrences in the affected areas.

“We want to be out front about this and since April 1, we have had zero calls to our consumer protection division,” King said.

Flood damage often serves as a magnet for people who come into the area and offer to do home repairs for exorbitant prices, or ask for a percentage of the cost in advance, then skip town.

King urged local residents to take the following precautions:

First, check the references and credentials of contractors who solicit work. Make sure the contractors are bonded and have a valid license to do business in the area.

Second, be wary of contractors who ask for more than one-quarter of the total repair cost in advance.

Residents can call the Attorney General’s consumer line at 1-800-392-5658 to speak to a consumer protection specialist, who can offer information concerning how to verify the credentials of a contractor.