Attorney General Curtis Hill is warning Hoosiers to beware of a specific home-repair scam reported to his office following recent severe weather across the state.
Callers have reported that certain home-improvement contractors have visited storm-damaged homes and offered to waive insurance deductibles for consumers who contract with them to make repairs. This practice is illegal under Indiana law.
Specifically, Indiana Code section 24-5-11-10.5 prohibits a home-improvement contractor from advertising, offering or promising to pay (or rebate) any part of an insurance deductible to induce a person to enter into a home-improvement contract or otherwise purchase goods or services from the contractor.
The Attorney General can take enforcement action against contractors violating this and other consumer protection laws.
Consumers who have received these offers from contractors are asked to report them to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division by calling 1-800-382-5516 or going online at www.in.gov/attorneygeneral and clicking the “File a Complaint†box at the bottom of the page.
