Dear Editor:
Once again residents of the Town of Secaucus have become the victims of fraudulent and unscrupulous theoretical contractors.
I would like to emphasis that no resident should remit any unsolicited contractors to enter their home under any alleged reason. Those contractors will use a statement such as “your heating system is faulty; I have to check the system in the basement.” Any pretext to enter the home can lead to theft of personal items when the resident is preoccupied by an assistant. Politely decline the offer. If this does not work, contact the police department without delay.
Plumbing and electrical contractors are required by state law to have state licenses. Any contractor attempting to conduct work of this type that cannot present a license should be declined.
If at any time the resident feels that the contractor may be attempting to defraud them, the Secaucus Police Department should be notified without delay to further investigate the validity of the contractor.
Other suggestions to determine the validity of any contractor, the resident can contact state agencies such as the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs. They can be contacted by 973-504-6200 which is the Consumer Service Center. This center can assist the consumer in finding out if the contractor has been the subject of prior complaints. Beginning on May 13, 2004, all home improvement contractors are required to register with this agency and satisfy certain other requirements. When this law takes effect in mid-November it will assist consumers with determining if the contractor has met these requirements.
Residents can also contact the Better Business Bureau at 609-588-0808 to determine if contractors or any state business has been the subject of complaints. Both of these agencies exist to assist the consumers and residents of our state. Both agencies maintain sites on the Internet that provides extensive information on protecting yourself from fraud. In addition, complaints can be filed to both agencies online. Hopefully this article will at least make the residents wary enough to either decline having work done be shoddy contractors or at the least, seek out further information on their capabilities and past work.
Thanks for assisting us with the dissemination of this information.
Sincerely,
Captain Richard Scalzo
Secaucus Police Department