WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – Beware of scammers looking to rip you off as you try to repair your home from Hurricane Milton damage.
News 6 spent time with a reputable company who shared tips on how to make sure the company you are working with is legitimate.
West Tree Services is handling many calls from people with trees down in their yard.
Operations Manager Brian Esparaza said he has heard customers tell him they hired people on the spot because they were exhausted and vulnerable due to the stress of dealing with a hurricane.
“One of the biggest scams that we have seen so far during this storm and other storms that we have done, is you’ll have what’s called fly by night companies that will come in and then they will tell you, we’re going to do it for this,” Esparaza said. “We need half upfront, never, never, never pay anybody any money upfront because more than likely they’re not coming back.”
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He had plenty of advice and also told us, “The best thing that someone can do when they’re calling a tree service, or any type of company at all, is to make sure that they are licensed and insured. One of the most important things is to make sure that they have workman’s compensation, because a lot of people do not know this. If you have a person working from another company and they get hurt on the job, they can sue the homeowner and pretty much the company as well. So, workman’s compensation is one of the most important things.”
Always check the company’s website to see if they list their services and fees.
The Better Business Bureau is a good resource when it comes to checking on whether or not a company is in good standing.
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